tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28627808808437799402024-03-19T05:09:02.138-04:00The Birchwood Pie ProjectTrying to figure out what to eat and everything else in life. Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.comBlogger569125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-17277028818244604612024-03-18T21:41:00.000-04:002024-03-18T21:41:16.781-04:00Weekly Round Up: Snow Snoot<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsfRApRFc7EulIwVTemIB8YtJhGaZuT-G1d7ncl6_TrkLk2KcWnKRpDMdrP3Oj71nCiHLpl125EYyknCuTtLY1X7T1gRCBlzz4NTWAbTOSucHJ95cPaVNaAhK3UgUgn2uGtBAPLDK7Ogx9xchk9BAZ6E9WwSXmpKFLphpILV41uVdCXOer5owylJ2jAw/s4898/IMG_9403.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsfRApRFc7EulIwVTemIB8YtJhGaZuT-G1d7ncl6_TrkLk2KcWnKRpDMdrP3Oj71nCiHLpl125EYyknCuTtLY1X7T1gRCBlzz4NTWAbTOSucHJ95cPaVNaAhK3UgUgn2uGtBAPLDK7Ogx9xchk9BAZ6E9WwSXmpKFLphpILV41uVdCXOer5owylJ2jAw/w640-h426/IMG_9403.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>A weekly round up: eats, workouts, watches, and reads, or at least as many of the above as I can remember with the puppy distraction.<p></p><p>Since we last talked we had another round of Boy Scout camp, which means that the family all went off on their own various adventures (camp for the fellas, boarding at the vet for Doggo, and a long weekend trip for me). I'll be back with that story in a few days. Today I want to show you a cute pic of my puppy in the snow and tell you about an incredible book.<br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><b>Dawg Report</b></p><p>Our girl continues to amaze and delight as well as to be a handful. My posting schedule is likely going to be a bit choppy for a bit. It's not that I *can't* blog and look after a puppy at the same time, it's just that for whatever reason it's hard to concentrate. Or as this <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=709083858046397&set=a.486326993655419" target="_blank">Facebook post so aptly put it</a>:<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmh-rw48DzxvAcIM7rAvl-ZfibjrlXuEAB3gSju5HaCKX8II2ViNd9d9jTNC80ZfyAX9ZInL-f46OULBvrx4wo_np_VKg4r8ysQskx7xZYrHLCN-wsQMdH7Sitt4IZwkEovZxKFaivkRouGyRq8YMw82QBZCiCVGbLkb-aGQ1bRvj20EDeDqSfKP0Ft3Q/s1555/2024-03-12%2016.22.23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1555" data-original-width="1237" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmh-rw48DzxvAcIM7rAvl-ZfibjrlXuEAB3gSju5HaCKX8II2ViNd9d9jTNC80ZfyAX9ZInL-f46OULBvrx4wo_np_VKg4r8ysQskx7xZYrHLCN-wsQMdH7Sitt4IZwkEovZxKFaivkRouGyRq8YMw82QBZCiCVGbLkb-aGQ1bRvj20EDeDqSfKP0Ft3Q/w510-h640/2024-03-12%2016.22.23.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><p></p><p>Serious truth, although my sources (everyone I know who had ever had a puppy) say that the velociraptor stage is more like 4-12 months, and there are frequent intervals of cuteness and snuggles in with the mayhem. I'll keep you posted.<b><br /></b></p><p><b>Food Report</b></p><p>Nothing memorable to report.</p><p><b>Workout Report</b></p><p>Still hiking up a storm. We're starting puppy training classes with Doggo next month, so I'm on a mission to finish the hiking challenge in March. Five hikes and approximately 20 miles to go!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2eGlQR9L5k7QxEiUfWhFic4A_FHLpSmczZKg6cms2c3Xls69kBvfLcSaMqGpK91qtXjX4LK-ERVE3MOG_bn3M61GS_mkPvo0OKYu5X08EK2JSyKITAmo0IhpWVPFGWkQkMzhBLwSlsVGeaDDUESSGj-DeO4mgg_Tj28D4teS5KHPV3w94nJTtzXIbgk/s4032/2024-03-15%2012.00.44.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2eGlQR9L5k7QxEiUfWhFic4A_FHLpSmczZKg6cms2c3Xls69kBvfLcSaMqGpK91qtXjX4LK-ERVE3MOG_bn3M61GS_mkPvo0OKYu5X08EK2JSyKITAmo0IhpWVPFGWkQkMzhBLwSlsVGeaDDUESSGj-DeO4mgg_Tj28D4teS5KHPV3w94nJTtzXIbgk/w640-h480/2024-03-15%2012.00.44.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>TV Report</b></p><p>See above point about the development stages of puppies.<br /></p><p><b>Book Report</b></p><p>Now we're talking! My reading has slowed down a bit but it's still kicking. And boy oh boy do I have a book for you. To catch you up:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I finished <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wellness-novel-Nathan-Hill/dp/0593536118" target="_blank">Wellness</a> by Nathan Hill. Final verdict: harrumph. When this book was good it was so good but then there were the other 500 pages of this 600 page book. It was took much work to get a funny story about an orgy.</li><li>Speaking of orgies, are you looking for a book with non erotic sexual content? Then I can wholeheartedly recommend <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Only-Say-Good-Things-Surviving/dp/1538765675" target="_blank">Only Say Good Things</a> by Crystal Hefner, who is Hugh Hefner's widow. I believe that this is the first time I've ever read a book because of the ghost writer, who is none other than Lara Love Hardin of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Many-Lives-Mama-Love-Stealing/dp/1982197668?keywords=the+many+lives+of+mama+love&qid=1690319743&sprefix=the+many+lives+of+,aps,91&sr=8-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=sarsbooshe04-20&linkId=32c6b0cea6dcdfbe5104f7bb6376f6db&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank">The Many Lives of Mama Love</a> fame. This was a well crafted, very sad story.</li><li>So what was that book I said I had for you? A week or so ago <a href="https://runnersfly.com/eating-and-reading/" target="_blank">Jenny mentioned a book</a> called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Every-Last-One-Anna-Quindlen-ebook/dp/B0036S4BNK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=17D5ES5PV0XQO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OWZYUR5ej4A9sI8AypQIf6-LyzobrHBU77JWWbJWZI_xP4uFDZ165ZukxEkiYDGNA0_yjxoGbs5jaJuG-hmeYA2-Lzb3zScGLOrXOvjL9k_BYFT_sF9jn15ZctCwDYaNVWWS5FkUP_vboKEhkfXX8NDOprXt2CiVJJZoQa3Fai_RWriJk52_Eai3xZMSTuPX.QYCPC_NVghUlCj7Cw6FllFYXyjiNEH1vwGWRlyxGZ7o&dib_tag=se&keywords=every+last+one+by+anna+quindlen&qid=1710810413&sprefix=every+last+one+%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Every Last One</a> by Anna Quindlen. From the way she described it, I knew that I needed to drop everything and get my hands on it NOW. I first encountered Quindlen in an college literature class, and it was a case of the professor being obsessed with her to the point where he killed our interest. From time to time I've heard someone recommend Quindlen and I've always resisted for that reason. Well, now that I know better I will do better. This book is <i>i-n-c-r-e-d-i-b-l-e</i>. All I will say is that it is a story about a family where the unthinkable happens. In a way I'm glad that I'm limited to reading a chapter at a time because it is such a journey. Now mind you, the book does start with the mother getting up before everyone else in the house and letting the dog out of the crate, which is my current life...except that the dog is older so her life does not include frequent trips outside to walk said puppy but I digress.</li></ul><p><i><b>Peace out! I'll be back soon to tell you about my trip.</b></i> <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-49433392597687959262024-03-04T21:06:00.003-05:002024-03-04T21:19:15.515-05:00Weekly Round Up: A Breed Apart<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAw0UtA3TbW8SVg3aKYuJsxVWjbiKfjg_Lhc0wWZWA6qPcCX2IPpn1imYWKWPPr_xgwwI-jezdaZVs4UBTf1lXgmQUZVvexgqihKqBC-eYSTvkivYDMZlsDurDKnjR_HjW15MiRJx1Om_WT9Knm9a5FiWTlBEFonaz4jGEkIfC6sCCXgSmIv7s0NAcf0/s2617/2024-02-26%2012.58.36.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2617" data-original-width="2293" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAw0UtA3TbW8SVg3aKYuJsxVWjbiKfjg_Lhc0wWZWA6qPcCX2IPpn1imYWKWPPr_xgwwI-jezdaZVs4UBTf1lXgmQUZVvexgqihKqBC-eYSTvkivYDMZlsDurDKnjR_HjW15MiRJx1Om_WT9Knm9a5FiWTlBEFonaz4jGEkIfC6sCCXgSmIv7s0NAcf0/w560-h640/2024-02-26%2012.58.36.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>A weekly round up: eats, workouts, watches, and reads. The big news item of this week is that the results are in on Doggo's DNA test! <p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><b>A Doggy DNA Teaser</b></p><p>We did a Doggy DNA test and the results are in! Obviously Doggo looks like a German Shepherd, but the pattern in her coat suggests that there is something else going on and she has white patches on her chest and paws. The question was if there enough of any one breed in her to test?<br /></p><p>Yes there was! I'm going to drag this out and give you the full answer at the end of the post, but here is your teaser:<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>33% Breed A</li><li>33% German Shepherd Dog (fun fact, the breed is called "German Shepherd Dog" and not "German Shepherd")</li><li>25% Breed B</li><li>9% Supermutt! <br /></li></ul><p>The mystery breeds are similar in size to German Shepherds. Breed A is known for being very affectionate and for kissing, which are definitely two traits that Doggo has. Breed B accounts for the white in her coat. When we've told people the results, the reaction to Breed A is "I would never have guessed that" and Breed B is "oh I can see that" (well I personally couldn't see it but that's what folks are saying).</p><p>The test predicted that her adult weight will be 46 pounds so at this point Girlfriend has 16 pounds to go. She tested negative for all of the genetic diseases that the test screens for.<br /></p><p>I'll let you ponder what Breeds A and B might be while we get on with the rest of the story.<br /></p><p><b>Eats</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wrZB9r4mHX9sdR4Mn8e4m8xlYfs3YOU-gHtCwC4wH1vsqqKBVU2AfZ_J-zVohBmfxTpRSHSeYuyyGfrrPagGY7hdqH7g9F6_qtb_Pgk4ZFIo-w9PbRoaA5Uw-8-9ykF4hF-2GvR7n9pfXwbf0qnkoxKvyLgakKMSgxCTZbwREsNocPR34AAEs46TK5o/s4032/2024-03-04%2018.48.37.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wrZB9r4mHX9sdR4Mn8e4m8xlYfs3YOU-gHtCwC4wH1vsqqKBVU2AfZ_J-zVohBmfxTpRSHSeYuyyGfrrPagGY7hdqH7g9F6_qtb_Pgk4ZFIo-w9PbRoaA5Uw-8-9ykF4hF-2GvR7n9pfXwbf0qnkoxKvyLgakKMSgxCTZbwREsNocPR34AAEs46TK5o/w640-h480/2024-03-04%2018.48.37.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Bad picture, good food. I did a very loose adaptation of <a href="https://rainbowplantlife.com/creamy-umami-noodle-soup-with-crispy-mushrooms/" target="_blank">Rainbow Plant Life's creamy umami noodle soup with crispy mushrooms</a>. My broth is beige compared to her white thanks to my shortcut of using a spoonful of chili paste instead of Thai chili peppers - you know, an ingredient that I would have had to go to the grocery store to get. Big thumbs up for the broth on this one. I think that there's a slight edge to browning mushrooms in a skillet as opposed to baking them but there is also the convenience factor of being hands off.<br /><p><b>Workouts</b></p><p>The usual during the week. <br /></p><p>I went on a tear with the hiking challenge this weekend and knocked out three hikes. The big payoff was this blue heron who came right up to the edge of the water and had zero cares that I was there. I returned the favor by not getting any closer than he did and using zoom to get this shot.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhot0jmdd8D2Jw7QjXEgimwUs2NHYj0HhywvCPxF4ilVa96cGwEL4dc5nabTZv3OsR3di1V5NVHkFxAppySmH8am9wlg6JDrnE6qJvkOZQTLqVJaNHuXhAG-QIfbGT2ZUlOuzuxWV-B2aS0hgtDqIi0nVEQFerSNWHZHhvHEFUj_VlEXvi5R8kpPLe6Wh4/s4032/2024-03-01%2014.43.20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhot0jmdd8D2Jw7QjXEgimwUs2NHYj0HhywvCPxF4ilVa96cGwEL4dc5nabTZv3OsR3di1V5NVHkFxAppySmH8am9wlg6JDrnE6qJvkOZQTLqVJaNHuXhAG-QIfbGT2ZUlOuzuxWV-B2aS0hgtDqIi0nVEQFerSNWHZHhvHEFUj_VlEXvi5R8kpPLe6Wh4/w640-h480/2024-03-01%2014.43.20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Watching</b></p><p>Nothing notable to report. <br /></p><p><b>Reading</b></p><p>I have mixed feelings about <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wellness-novel-Nathan-Hill/dp/0593536118" target="_blank">Wellness</a> by Nathan Hill but the mix is leaning toward the positive side. It's a big sprawling satire on marriage, parenting, and modern times. The genius part is that the author is able to build up a believable world and characters without getting cartoonish. I don't live in a world where the latest thing in home design is separate bedrooms for spouses, but the way he lays it out makes me believe it and laugh at it. I like the two main characters and I believe in them as real people.</p><p>What I don't like is that the book is very long and the story gets flabby in places. Taking a detour to tell the story of the wife's great grandfather, grandfather, and father...no thank you. I've given these and other ramblings a good skim.</p><p>On the audio book side, lots of hikes mean lots of listening.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I finally, finally, finally got around to <a href="https://girlinaboyhouse.com/" target="_blank">Nicole's</a> recommendation of Lauren Bacall's memoir. She (Lauren, not Nicole but if only...) wrote a nice juicy memoir called By Myself, which she later updated and that version is called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Myself-Then-Some-Lauren-Bacall-ebook/dp/B003JBI2PM?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Mj1ZzyAwkccpIoVJMLPlLlcz_mRb5cSykDjuitnjDYBCjwbU6EAvwT-K0K73zOXhHvZGUqwNyIqr7WvEhRIC2nRSNefw6n93tzH-cyeF7S4.zxiv_5VI3L7mNLvAa5dQn53CNl-KYAm1PXJCYwRlWoI&dib_tag=AUTHOR" target="_blank">By Myself and Then Some</a>. I loved By Myself but the trouble started when the book went to the "Then Some" chapters where the story switched from juicy personal stuff to "let me tell you about that time that Barbra Streisand cast me in a movie as her mother"...I found myself bored to tears and jumped ship at that point. I loved getting to hear her voice telling her story, and I will forgive her for only writing about two sentences about <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2023/11/lets-go-places-malabar-farm-state-park.html" target="_blank">Malabar Farm</a>.<br /></li><li>My next book is something that I learned about from a Cool Blogger but I don't remember who (please tell me if it was you!). <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Counting-Cost-Jill-Duggar-ebook/dp/B0C6L2JQX9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=117WR3UWR2RE8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sizmI2YBawaP_VBZ5Ijq1C78_UDAgqyVjff8EASunaxzY1XyHjEmyWRi9ByzXtm-S0e3cfXJ3HwMd9YS65j6P0Y7Jru7SiA4LD1UTlZ0cmqUmdQeJj8agEuypGTsCwBOKKyBwCC1rDISRc-vXfWJTzhhh6IjISJaeZQ8Jart2QQhToYDzC4wGer-Ckov1m1sppr1ldoB_DYO-ZBybpyLp-TkrPqDXu-rO6tBrZ1Cjp4.83Nrx3I5MFNqcWvs_XF9nIIeMkIe3A_LXZNNMcFX7wo&dib_tag=se&keywords=counting+the+cost+jill+duggar+kindle&qid=1709593256&s=digital-text&sprefix=coutning+the+%2Cdigital-text%2C99&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Counting the Cost</a> by Jill Duggar is her memoir about being kid #4 of 19. I watched the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Under-Authority/dp/B0B8TSG92M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1BXQDNOVM06GO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.rOmgxQdVuFK1EKBYcDxIAZwq6z0w3aZPhx4mmni_ZkTpxV5c3-84L-QRavoI5R5Rs8bKEE0QNrvAHc-ueXBf93YvoaAro41tRBd1DCVcCVbtfW8lsYYYuG9r1wN2dsdiRLbQRGHTTGOe8fqTOAvk9u5tdcdH3_qQ-xiihuIjP4R_1Bp-EejaqQiihESZ87P6H2vAagJPNxs_0jkbwxWzQ35cxwKsfp9D40Q6hfuOTzY.63Xoo8ZBR-aNMgdQqlm4kpu7Y4KNlFY116j50ESFkX8&dib_tag=se&keywords=duggar+documentary&qid=1709593335&sprefix=duggar+docu%2Caps%2C715&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Duggar documentary</a> on Amazon a while back, and she really stood out for having taken the mess that her parents handed her and making a good life on her own terms. It is jaw droppingly good, though of course what she went through is very sad.</li></ul><p><b>Enough stalling, tell us what kind of dog Doggo is</b></p><p>Surely!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpkWDENeyz7FMGpsIFHax6kW1cPWYXezVW-xqxny3qlGjCWO3BfnSH9gimHe0gX95JO0a03V91eENKF9-yPFw9Oum1GXagxpOnpX0f1_fn4NavNGcMma9EP4IhdaIxVedUuvZ07M-yzBUS_kY33DLvWaad5xGZWfG7kWEejNL5hCKWqdvl4NyUkPEx5s/s672/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-03%20at%203.23.37%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="672" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpkWDENeyz7FMGpsIFHax6kW1cPWYXezVW-xqxny3qlGjCWO3BfnSH9gimHe0gX95JO0a03V91eENKF9-yPFw9Oum1GXagxpOnpX0f1_fn4NavNGcMma9EP4IhdaIxVedUuvZ07M-yzBUS_kY33DLvWaad5xGZWfG7kWEejNL5hCKWqdvl4NyUkPEx5s/w640-h322/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-03%20at%203.23.37%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>My little Pit Bull! The combination means a very affectionate, very intelligent, high energy dog. That checks out with what we've seen of Doggo so far.<br /></p><p>I googled the three breeds and was surprised to find a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thedogist/reel/Cw-cTYprlVt/" target="_blank">video of a dog that looks very similar to Doggo</a> - that dog has more of a Pit Bull face, but the coat pattern and the white patches are very close.</p><p><b><i>See all y'all next week!</i></b><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-91670034702522123732024-02-27T20:34:00.000-05:002024-02-27T20:34:18.652-05:00Weekly Round Up 2 of 2: Food n'Stuff<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QRt2rivEm6JrMtx9tG1d4j_-7vA3l4QYJz4Hugw1R6rws6PkDeK7kz585j_kg8GksTL3KZBUxQQmrC7BP779jRI2p7MbGE2b_W1aZTFfehfUdUekmhnc1IH_e2gAjmhPYabmf5d123HFPgNSd7RbgGSZV4C_c8LYpqWO3aVPlJYJFf7elZ9GLzvetGQ/s4032/2024-02-22%2015.03.08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QRt2rivEm6JrMtx9tG1d4j_-7vA3l4QYJz4Hugw1R6rws6PkDeK7kz585j_kg8GksTL3KZBUxQQmrC7BP779jRI2p7MbGE2b_W1aZTFfehfUdUekmhnc1IH_e2gAjmhPYabmf5d123HFPgNSd7RbgGSZV4C_c8LYpqWO3aVPlJYJFf7elZ9GLzvetGQ/w640-h480/2024-02-22%2015.03.08.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>A weekly round up: eats, workouts, watches, and reads. Picking it up from part 1, lemme tell you the usual stuff that I talk about in these roundups.<span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><p><b>Food</b></p><p>One idle click on Instagram and all of a sudden I came across two killer good recipes. I've browsed <a href="https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/" target="_blank">Ambitious Kitchen</a> before but I believe this is the first time I've ever made one of her recipes.<br /></p><p>First up: <a href="https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/gochujang-chicken-bowls/" target="_blank">Gochujang chicken bowls</a>. I don't like to tell people what to do but if you are at all into to Gochujang, I'd recommend making this ASAP.<br /></p><p>My changes were: ignoring ingredient #1 on the list of "filtered water" and taking mine straight from the tap. Change #2 was of course swapping the chicken for 8 oz of soy curls. I air fried them using my go-to method via The Cheap Lazy Vegan in <a href="https://www.thecheaplazyvegan.com/vegan-buffalo-chicken-wrap/" target="_blank">this recipe</a>. 10/10 will make again. I don't have the words to tell you how easy and how good this was.<br /></p><p>Next up: <a href="https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/green-chile-chicken-burritos/ " target="_blank">green chile chicken burritos</a>. I always like to keep a batch of burritos in the freezer, and I'm always searching for the next Great Burrito recipe. I can't explain what it was about a chicken and potato burrito that appealed to me, but I decided to go for it.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItriwZ2X7SgbRmN_EhDkIsEwIBR_dEhq1mNnhYjgb_zkOgxnm8ekJ4G4_LOLlwZIujAckE-8ZykfPKGP5Le5A0u2Na5ZdJpqmQm_lnYlRiGAhCTaScK0i3hKATRnuxtgj8UtC6OItyI9rwg-owvVeg8gF5ZMf5Mt66a75PUgCKw-YTFEZAeILcvoFQUg/s4032/2024-02-22%2013.05.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItriwZ2X7SgbRmN_EhDkIsEwIBR_dEhq1mNnhYjgb_zkOgxnm8ekJ4G4_LOLlwZIujAckE-8ZykfPKGP5Le5A0u2Na5ZdJpqmQm_lnYlRiGAhCTaScK0i3hKATRnuxtgj8UtC6OItyI9rwg-owvVeg8gF5ZMf5Mt66a75PUgCKw-YTFEZAeILcvoFQUg/w640-h480/2024-02-22%2013.05.18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Changes: skipped cilantro and jalpeno because the grocery store stock wasn't looking good. Skipped the green chiles because my assumption that I had a can in the pantry was incorrect. Traded in the chicken for a block of crumbled tofu. Cooked the potatoes in the air fryer to speed up the cooking process. I had a few bites plain as shown but then upgraded with a sprinkling of melted cheese, a ton of salsa, and sour cream. The upgrade was what hit the spot and this is now my go-to freezer burrito until the next one comes along.</p><p><b>Workouts</b></p><p>Same old same old. I did the longest hike in my hiking challenge of 7.6 miles. I wouldn't normally go for a three hour walk, but now that it's done I've got the bragging rights. There is only one more hike that is over 6 miles and the rest are in the 3-5 mile range.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvP1Rf39jP4X80pBXWKBqCd8MJshTmvKn8ZdAt0Zw3tMrGWuFZioozZ14wEw77moM3P-TbVzZ6Y1HfPEzvQoqxNOFRW3XAeWhMRXztRFNQ1LYaSLvmesGKSxReFiw3_oHxVCP9xC42jNVrMN_rcENuyxVFFw5Yio31hcYRMzYEoTWKGTFhJkmFDPsxj1k/s4032/2024-02-23%2012.50.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvP1Rf39jP4X80pBXWKBqCd8MJshTmvKn8ZdAt0Zw3tMrGWuFZioozZ14wEw77moM3P-TbVzZ6Y1HfPEzvQoqxNOFRW3XAeWhMRXztRFNQ1LYaSLvmesGKSxReFiw3_oHxVCP9xC42jNVrMN_rcENuyxVFFw5Yio31hcYRMzYEoTWKGTFhJkmFDPsxj1k/w640-h480/2024-02-23%2012.50.20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Watching</b></p><p>When you get that perfect NYC rent controlled apartment but your neighbors are a little intrusive...I finally watched <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063522/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_2_nm_6_q_rosema" target="_blank">Rosemary's Baby</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0r9J60GTrZ0" width="320" youtube-src-id="0r9J60GTrZ0"></iframe></div><br /><p>It was pretty good, and not scary BUT boy did I feel awkward watching it on the plane coming back from vacation. As I was settling in I told a look around the cabin and took note of what everyone else was watching on their screens. Then it dawned on me that I was in the aisle seat and everyone could see my screen. There's nothing overly gory in the movie but there are some sex scenes and boobs and...well that's not what I want to see on other people's screens. I found myself minimizing the media window anytime something spicy came up.</p><p>Meanwhile back home I've started season two of my current favorite quirky Australian show: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8765446/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_4_nm_4_q_upri" target="_blank">Upright</a>. Look, this show didn't <i>need</i> a second season and it's no where near as good as the first season but all the same I don't mind getting to hang out with the characters for a bit longer.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jc_lX06-9Fg" width="320" youtube-src-id="Jc_lX06-9Fg"></iframe></div><br /><p><b>Reading</b></p><p>I've been reading a lot in general and then when you add a beach trip on top of that, the result is a mountain of books.</p><p>First up: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/My-Brilliant-Friend-Neapolitan-Novels/dp/1609450787" target="_blank">My Brilliant Friend</a> started strong but the further I got into it the less I was able to follow the story. After a certain point my brain just couldn't string the words together. Once I got to the "my brain isn't braining" point, I skimmed the rest to get the story. I think I'm going to class this as a DNF - I mean technically I read it in the sense that I put eyes on each page but for whatever reason I couldn't absorb the material. I'm still following along with the <a href="https://ngradstudent.blogspot.com/2024/02/week-four-my-brilliant-friend-cbbc.html" target="_blank">Cool Blogger's Book Club</a> for a cool discussion.</p><p>Next: nothing says beach vacation like the Alphabet series! I gobbled down <a href="https://www.amazon.com/D-is-for-Deadbeat-Sue-Grafton-audiobook/dp/B000BX9KEI/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3621SJD7EKHPX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zizoNgTN9blqu6BGAJjWcQU6cut5iAYx3NX0pkJ4SyhgHphJ4-lyLaDivLGq6PURo6_0QDWeFIXWrwJ15Wjay4d42Hb-cYQTWwr-FAaYN_i_z8QoYJAQcPPaXwQCJxAo13utsiIRmZoEU2hBq9m5_ji8zR-99LGicbxBp0EWB_E7d3vH4bI5E3I9-LqzBaLxqeXMCoN9K34uLR0M240pDgMzVmd4UxGhtQouwRHmgeI.k8eC2l7qbbdOy7xpQ6iDcW10iS3YN02UXZbrKCb65d4&dib_tag=se&keywords=d+is+for+deadbeat&qid=1709083048&s=books&sprefix=d+is+for+deadbeat%2Cstripbooks%2C112&sr=1-1" target="_blank">D is for Deadbeat</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Evidence-Kinsey-Millhone-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0031B7KC6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.W88OJyn94r9wTQTsIoRWGCIlFM0Hv2A_Gxva-qK42Vw.95er55arznCNNCwpwhZRhIL-SxHHC6LAbEy8NwkIEcA&qid=1709083083&sr=1-1" target="_blank">E is for Evidence</a> and enjoyed them thoroughly. I will say that I'm not really grabbed by the mystery and the whodunit part of these books, it's 100% the experience of hanging out with Kinsey. I wanna be a 1980's private eye living in a garage apartment.</p><p>In between the Alphabet books I hit up another Nevil Shute, which I don't believe that I ever read before, but it wasn't nearly as good as his other books. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Black-Stump-Nevil-Norway-ebook/dp/B096QQGBJR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=R29VTUY4MBLG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._GyrvqZKqY6WTKTIALDG09HP_J6vM1ua6HhKHOAgxKb03Ro2wHPYhyVbv7mXxeT1PyYfJQ51Zv8htzG62kt5pcpYxIN7cd0Mrb8Z6FzlKtw.CkOBMBHbazYwJVeAOr9pq0RN1EONazpNIlK4Lgakc5E&dib_tag=se&keywords=beyond+the+black+stump&qid=1709083548&s=digital-text&sprefix=beyond+the+black+stu%2Cdigital-text%2C114&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Beyond the Black Stump</a> is about a straight laced American engineer who goes out to Australia and befriends a farmer's family. He starts a relationship with the oldest daughter but troubles begin when she goes home to meet his folks and it turns out that the norms in rural Australia don't line up with the norms of small town 'Murica. Look I don't know what small town Oregon was like in the 1950's and I suspect that Shute didn't either because that part of the story had a very cardboard cutout kinda feel. I enjoyed the book up to the point where everyone went back to 'Murica and then it was just like "what's the point?" It's alright, goodness knows that Shute wrote a mountain of incredible books so I can forgive him for a dud.<br /></p><p>And finally, now that I'm home I'm reading a "not a mystery and not a Nevil Shute" book. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wellness-novel-Nathan-Hill/dp/0593536118" target="_blank">Wellness</a> by Nathan Hill has a lot of buzz on it. All I can tell you so far is that it's about a marriage that isn't doing so well.</p><p><b><i>Alrighty, that's my story for the past two weeks and I'm sticking to it. See all y'all next week!</i></b><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-23707377862839857982024-02-26T20:35:00.000-05:002024-02-26T20:35:21.504-05:00Weekly Round Up 1 of 2: The Great Catch Up<p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3Ul9g8znA1vKLk4oXwWHHooOmbRX0by2KDGvQxlwGORlwBV5NU4YMYjrSvpjO1asymDt0w5H1mxAn5AX786sREOjpAENMxCm_VPqIxvW8-D4RNXqQUK2g81kaTtjGohkkrDA98wsCp5ef5w5L_TLdB7qf2TKt3dg57nNpkMFCsCcpkNCpNKdJW8YS_8/s4032/2024-02-17%2008.06.21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3Ul9g8znA1vKLk4oXwWHHooOmbRX0by2KDGvQxlwGORlwBV5NU4YMYjrSvpjO1asymDt0w5H1mxAn5AX786sREOjpAENMxCm_VPqIxvW8-D4RNXqQUK2g81kaTtjGohkkrDA98wsCp5ef5w5L_TLdB7qf2TKt3dg57nNpkMFCsCcpkNCpNKdJW8YS_8/w640-h480/2024-02-17%2008.06.21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>A weekly round up: eats, workouts, watches, and reads. I've got a lot of stuff to catch up on, so let's split this up into two posts to keep it manageable. Today I'm going to tell you about our winter getaway and the dog, and then I'll come back tomorrow with food, workouts, movies, and books.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><b>The Great Winter Getaway of 2024</b></p><p>Last time I left off with the teaser that there were plans for us to get up to no good.</p><p>On Valentine's Day Hubs and I got up at 4 AM to do this: <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7F2wmGBp3BpC1urF50eY3cbR2saYmbDs19A27-2Q-9MY6VPDuikcEwx4a8TCGyxRtv5yAy_a3jwZbzJEdm4KmHKERgI2WzhzBhIVd6wznlPKIox1T__4H9quU5T_rLITY2sBVMQ44r-CUjx_AHyuBKlpttAJVZjoZdGD7vjSe2MpFxhtIR3BuxFqGr_M/s4032/2024-02-14%2008.06.31.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7F2wmGBp3BpC1urF50eY3cbR2saYmbDs19A27-2Q-9MY6VPDuikcEwx4a8TCGyxRtv5yAy_a3jwZbzJEdm4KmHKERgI2WzhzBhIVd6wznlPKIox1T__4H9quU5T_rLITY2sBVMQ44r-CUjx_AHyuBKlpttAJVZjoZdGD7vjSe2MpFxhtIR3BuxFqGr_M/w640-h480/2024-02-14%2008.06.31.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>So that we could return to our natural habitat and do this:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBW_LlJfhvY8MI4KvaY5W7po1Kuh45k8M-P0rUmxgzj8ea_wjq-udg6qilzfIiUM_vDxoc2nwYdEIdfsDC2Y4KmbnAfQeRhqu9F_H8dk_cTN1zuNw5-3iEBOKKaE82GOAQvF0xkJqBW9COZJVLeRhmhGDNPvGUKCNICgXM5HAJNNs2eLNUScMcoGPqXk/s4032/2024-02-15%2011.13.58.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBW_LlJfhvY8MI4KvaY5W7po1Kuh45k8M-P0rUmxgzj8ea_wjq-udg6qilzfIiUM_vDxoc2nwYdEIdfsDC2Y4KmbnAfQeRhqu9F_H8dk_cTN1zuNw5-3iEBOKKaE82GOAQvF0xkJqBW9COZJVLeRhmhGDNPvGUKCNICgXM5HAJNNs2eLNUScMcoGPqXk/w640-h480/2024-02-15%2011.13.58.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>That's right, for the first time since 2019, Hubs and I <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2019/02/weekly-eats-valentines-edition.html" target="_blank">put winter on pause</a> and spent a long weekend somewhere warm.<br /></p><p>Wait you're saying...<a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2024/01/weekly-round-up-future-is-now.html" target="_blank">didn't you guys just get a puppy</a>?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuVardZspq7vhPwVzPBIFCtZJq1RUITzYKbK90AW-DhuB8qQooPXiUCuw_dLi7Sw8obqkCasbB_3gx1c3Ore6opxQUWZO1owg6RXjn9LU7hWmQW2jZneEnXbCXpt8IDAnPp2ri9q0X-4QNO6yVK4IjYWp4ny7VeLcsAksA-4yv5cLOrWXtswwuZDZcmI/s4032/2024-02-25%2011.40.22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuVardZspq7vhPwVzPBIFCtZJq1RUITzYKbK90AW-DhuB8qQooPXiUCuw_dLi7Sw8obqkCasbB_3gx1c3Ore6opxQUWZO1owg6RXjn9LU7hWmQW2jZneEnXbCXpt8IDAnPp2ri9q0X-4QNO6yVK4IjYWp4ny7VeLcsAksA-4yv5cLOrWXtswwuZDZcmI/w640-h480/2024-02-25%2011.40.22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Why yes we did. This vacation was scheduled before Doggo came along,
and was a part of the conversation about whether we should adopt her or
not. The shelter said that she would be fine, and sure enough she was.
We boarded her at our vet, and while we were being beach bums she got
hands on attention, lots of games, and time with other dogs. It was a
good weekend for all parties concerned. But more about the dog in a
minute.</p><p><b>Resort Life</b></p><p>We stayed at an adults only, all inclusive resort in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. SIL#1 and family went to the same place a few years ago, so we copied them. We had our eye on the place in early January, and then on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Monday_(date)" target="_blank">Blue Monday</a> they did a 50% off sale, and we made our move and decided that 50% off meant that we needed the swim up room instead of the normie room. Can I just say that I didn't know that Blue Monday was a thing and now that I do it will be my preferred shopping day for winter vacations?<br /></p><p>The reason that I'm not saying where it was is that "all inclusive" included a very bizarre sales pitch for the resort's time share. The staff spent two hours explaining why their loyalty club was not a time share, but Hubs and I are a bit thick, and our tiny brains just couldn't pick up on the difference. In the end we walked out, had a good laugh, and spent the rest of our vacation on the beach as God intended.<br /></p><p>You know, in my everyday life I don't need a butler to take care of my every last need, but for a long weekend with my boo, I sure don't mind it. We went from temperatures of 30F to 30C and yes yes yes there was a cold snap and a storm at home while we were gone and I indulged in some very unseemly Shadenfreude and relished every Facebook post that I saw from home bemoaning the storm.</p><p>Hubs and I took up a very strict schedule:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I usually wake up before Hubs so as soon as I woke up each morning I hit up the resort coffee bar and puttered around the beach with my coffee. That's where I was the day that I saw Resort Cat lounging by the pool.<br /></li><li>Once Hubs woke we met up and went to the breakfast buffet.</li><li>While at breakfast we debated the merits of starting our day at the beach or at the pool.</li><li>Whichever location we decided, we periodically switched between beach and pool.</li><li>11 AM seemed like the correct time for our first margarita of the day.</li><li>We had lunch when we felt like it and additional beach cocktails throughout the day as needed.</li><li>Hubs worked out twice and I worked out once. I did the Cool Blogger's 30/12/3 workout but struggled converting MPH to KPH. 3 MPH is just under 5 KPH, but that felt really fast.</li><li>Each night we ate at a different resort restaurant. There was steak, there was surf n'turf kebabs, there was salmon, and there was a seafood pasta. Everything was to die for.<br /></li><li>We made the rookie mistake that Nicole (HI NICOLE!) <a href="https://girlinaboyhouse.com/2024/01/nicoles-favourite-things-the-fancy-was-my-name-edition/" target="_blank">warned us about</a> and forgot to bring sunscreen and I forgot a beach hat. We paid a king's ransom at the resort store for these items but it was worth it not to get sunburn. Sigh, you live you learn. <br /></li><li>Yay US Netflix is accessible in the Dominican Republic so we continued our Seinfeld binge in the evenings.</li></ul><p>Anyways, this was not my normal <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/p/the-rust-belt-travel-guide.html" target="_blank">Rust Belt Travel adventure</a>, and I'm OK with that. Hubs is on notice that he is not allowed to let another five years elapse between now and our next winter getaway.</p><p>It's also worth noting that in recent years I have come to dread flying. It's expensive, airports are crappy, I've had 100% flight delays in recent years, but what really roasts me is that for some reason I've become afraid of flying. Logically I know it's safer than driving, and in my younger days I loved to fly, but something has happened over time that has me all squirrely every time I step on a plane. However, for this trip the flights were seamless. No unpleasantness at the airport, no delays and the flights came in a bit early both ways, and minimal bumps in the air. Baggage claim ran smoothly and quickly. And wowza, the flight even had free wifi. Flying was practically a pleasant experience.</p><p><b>Dawg Life</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtfmrMUJcqUWtJ3O5Hfcg8Ec3-yPe5ys90TAF4Y1pQCN3RMWhmTYg2qimSaIbd6HPEaRTitQfWKMpb_tXtbBXnrvee_G-ao2UWnNx60BKsy6akC5gUjub-AfVaB7fyuE9DiY8A5p1HwmImO6BWkFg398kEu6vxQxhzlrvj2ivni5yLPvtIrJiJA8AEj4/s4032/2024-02-21%2011.35.13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtfmrMUJcqUWtJ3O5Hfcg8Ec3-yPe5ys90TAF4Y1pQCN3RMWhmTYg2qimSaIbd6HPEaRTitQfWKMpb_tXtbBXnrvee_G-ao2UWnNx60BKsy6akC5gUjub-AfVaB7fyuE9DiY8A5p1HwmImO6BWkFg398kEu6vxQxhzlrvj2ivni5yLPvtIrJiJA8AEj4/w640-h480/2024-02-21%2011.35.13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Someone is growing into quite the big girl. There's no way to tell how big Doggo will get - on the one hand she might not get much bigger, or she might double her weight and get to a more traditional German Shepherd size. The shelter told us that she was 25 pounds, but at her first vet visit three weeks ago she clocked in at 21. On her follow up for her vaccinations this week girlfriend was tipping the scales at 29 pounds. Her face is starting to catch up to her ears, and her legs are a mile long.</p><p>Wins of the week:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Doggo had a blast at Doggy Boarding School and picked back up her life with us without missing a beat.<br /></li><li>We had our first "real" dog walk around the block. Doggo hasn't had any leash training, but she's picking it up by instinct. Our yard isn't fully fenced, so every time she's outside she's on the leash.</li><li>Doggo is doing very well around other dogs. She met our neighbor's dog through the fence and has had some encounters on walks. We've had a few instances where other dogs have lost their minds around her, but she's taken it in stride and hasn't reacted back at the dogs.</li><li>Hubs gave her a bath and she was very calm. Stepdog hated baths so Doggo's calmness threw us for a loop.<br /></li><li>Sniff, we're starting to have a bit more freedom and she's slightly less hands on. She doesn't need to go outside as frequently. We're comfortable leaving her alone in our back room/kitchen for 5-10 minute stretches. She has fewer spells of "puppy crazies". Don't get me wrong, she still takes up the bulk of our waking hours but she's just less of a handful. I've heard that puppies go through "teenage" spells where they revert back, and I know that will happen to us, but as of right now pup life is good.</li></ul><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZR3wiHuniZK4Iw47W4D5UA7JgzmQbuK_AAM_bQVqBhpxiF0KO7xxq5WZ_je5yfurw7lpFDybmfyzXM-nY6dTL7d1uEppqZpTkmylz-f5vS5D4FVFREANELfQlHdb_mSnqc_tis2F6fZLRQNRGC-CC0UlcS11hdHT-bCWg_gi21q5LFbBiJfGOd7Y5vLI/s4032/2024-02-25%2018.56.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZR3wiHuniZK4Iw47W4D5UA7JgzmQbuK_AAM_bQVqBhpxiF0KO7xxq5WZ_je5yfurw7lpFDybmfyzXM-nY6dTL7d1uEppqZpTkmylz-f5vS5D4FVFREANELfQlHdb_mSnqc_tis2F6fZLRQNRGC-CC0UlcS11hdHT-bCWg_gi21q5LFbBiJfGOd7Y5vLI/w640-h480/2024-02-25%2018.56.57.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>We've got a session with our dog trainer this week and we'll figure out where to go with her training from here.<p></p><p></p><p><b><i>That's all for now. I'll be back soon with food, workouts, TV, and looooots of books.</i></b><br /> </p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-4623914704980717512024-02-12T19:43:00.000-05:002024-02-12T19:43:01.660-05:00Weekly Round Up: It's All a Blur<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuD6GuYepPnEzPaX0ejJznkNx411Vm1KlzDsytU452shU6J2tj1Wxr4AJlAN-JJDrOgrC2__fSAQdvYZdyGTr4WXoKWBQMfzfTmVixtmKbfotNlhN52t2ylYopHgMvt4BxzmUCXSwrnVYATyeGhiF8T40OFWiDL5nrP0z1YAwj1I0KjAUQcMYtycBybM/s1600/2024-02-11%2014.59.16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuD6GuYepPnEzPaX0ejJznkNx411Vm1KlzDsytU452shU6J2tj1Wxr4AJlAN-JJDrOgrC2__fSAQdvYZdyGTr4WXoKWBQMfzfTmVixtmKbfotNlhN52t2ylYopHgMvt4BxzmUCXSwrnVYATyeGhiF8T40OFWiDL5nrP0z1YAwj1I0KjAUQcMYtycBybM/w640-h360/2024-02-11%2014.59.16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>A weekly round up: eats, workouts, watches, reads, and Doggo. It's a dog's life when you have two balls and you can't figure out how to bite both of them at once. Let's see if I can remember anything about this week besides Pup Life.<br /><p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><b>Doggo Report</b></p><p>She's even more delightful and even more of a handful. I don't want to write too much detail about the ins and outs of puppydom because we're in the middle of it and I don't know what it all means yet. I'm thinking back to all of those "How to Home School Your Kids" posts that came out in March 2020 and all of the "dude you've been home schooling your kids for one week like everyone else" responses.</p><p>The joyful part is how much she is opening up to us. When we got her she was a bag of bones and now her body is solid and her legs are longer. Our back room is filled with dog toys and she plays with them all like crazy. Pro tip which I've learned since our friends did it for us: if someone you know has just gotten a puppy, bring them a couple of dog toys. One chew toy and one soft toy. That's exactly what your friends need.<br /></p><p>The big win of this week was crate training. Once we'd done a few sessions during the day all of a sudden Doggo was magically able to sleep through the night so now we get to sleep through the night. Between you and me I cannot wait until the day when the crate is no longer necessary, but the reality is that she cannot be left unattended right now, and Hubs and I <i>might</i> need/want to leave the house at the same time before she's able to be on her own.</p><p><b>Eats</b></p><p>Um to be honest it's all a blur. We're going ultra simple with meals right now. When the dog grows up we'll get more ambitious.</p><p><b>Workouts</b></p><p>To be honest, they're kind of a blur as well but they happened. The most exciting part was getting in not one but two hikes for the hiking challenge. The weather was wicked gorgeous this weekend.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZB2KoC-HIj5GOnt2AJ426FIHMwVLoesw5TwHTku0kZ4gAxInw9N5yyTKx56sgEEgj7KJeS8_UHJlbuRhyphenhyphen3DoyEJNGdLzvcjUOBCqwVrppkqd3RW7ALvDiKK8_n1VT9GilKA4JwZpSoayHl2dyzctxkZ6_4SUzisbHiMpr38KD54Vl8KNLeEGvqSYuF4/s4032/2024-02-09%2015.22.05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZB2KoC-HIj5GOnt2AJ426FIHMwVLoesw5TwHTku0kZ4gAxInw9N5yyTKx56sgEEgj7KJeS8_UHJlbuRhyphenhyphen3DoyEJNGdLzvcjUOBCqwVrppkqd3RW7ALvDiKK8_n1VT9GilKA4JwZpSoayHl2dyzctxkZ6_4SUzisbHiMpr38KD54Vl8KNLeEGvqSYuF4/w640-h480/2024-02-09%2015.22.05.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b> </b><p></p><p><b>Watching</b></p><p>It's getting harder to find Big Hits from the 80's that we've either never seen or haven't seen since the 80's, but we pulled it off this weekend. <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086465/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Trading Places</a> was a wow.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fupg2r1EJ9w" width="320" youtube-src-id="Fupg2r1EJ9w"></iframe></div><br /><p><b>Reading</b></p><p>Still rocking <a href="https://www.amazon.com/My-Brilliant-Friend-Neapolitan-Novels/dp/1609450787" target="_blank">My Brilliant Friend</a> for the <a href="https://ngradstudent.blogspot.com/2024/02/week-1-my-brilliant-friend-cbbc.html" target="_blank">Cool Bloggers Book Club</a>.</p><p>Still rereading the Dover series...I'm now on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dover-Three-Mystery-Joyce-Porter/dp/0881501476" target="_blank">Dover Three</a> by Joyce Porter. The series is a spoof of the great British detective novels in general, but Dover Three is the only book (at least that I'm aware of) that is a spoof of a specific book. It is a direct retelling of Agatha Christie's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Moving-Finger-Marple-Mystery-Mysteries/dp/0062073621" target="_blank">The Moving Finger</a>. I remember a few years ago when I rewatched the old Miss Marple TV series being surprised at how close Dover Three followed the Christie story while at the same time taking it to new places. Joyce Porter's vision of small town England was quite a bit different than Agatha Christie's.<br /></p><p>I've been listening to audio books on my hikes which is how I'm putting so many of them away. My latest venture there is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Exit-Interview-Death-Ambitious-Career/dp/B0BVKXM1M2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=383OW3FCG7Q5D&keywords=the+exit+interview&qid=1707603129&s=books&sprefix=exit+inter%2Cstripbooks%2C114&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career</a> by Kristi Coulter. It's a tell all of her career at Amazon. When I heard about this book I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it or not - in light of my own troubles with work these past few years I wasn't sure if it would it be cathartic or triggering. So far neither is true - it's good enough to keep listening but not the best book that I've ever read. I'm very interested to see where the story goes.<br /></p><p><b><i>That's all for now. Next week I solemnly swear that we will be getting up to no good. More to come!</i></b><br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-27425353620764896772024-02-05T20:33:00.000-05:002024-02-05T20:33:30.633-05:00Weekly Round Up: The Days are Long<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qn0EytfBflyBSCDmknTxE4utE7Q3vv7arVhdr9SqUlE31ow-GwIovr2qdQgMnqOl7LZsOzQeo2Gya23mBIGACiXYUG6LxqZNX0Ix_ESoUqGx-iA8mfGXrNpjK98wKoXfSzYl-xi4JYOeONbgsR34B5UiWg0SjrqUZY4DA_6UYeXNMeWsU7hhdNX683s/s4032/2024-01-31%2012.34.00.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qn0EytfBflyBSCDmknTxE4utE7Q3vv7arVhdr9SqUlE31ow-GwIovr2qdQgMnqOl7LZsOzQeo2Gya23mBIGACiXYUG6LxqZNX0Ix_ESoUqGx-iA8mfGXrNpjK98wKoXfSzYl-xi4JYOeONbgsR34B5UiWg0SjrqUZY4DA_6UYeXNMeWsU7hhdNX683s/w480-h640/2024-01-31%2012.34.00.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>A weekly round up: eats, workouts, watches, and reads. This was a week of long but delightful days with our new puppy. In other news we tried a new stir fry, I've got workout musings, and a read-the-book-or-see-the-movie went down.</p><p><i>Spoiler alert: I will be discussing the book/movie On the Beach. I can't figure out how to do it without spoilers, but I've kept them as vague as I can manage. Skip that section if you don't want the deets. </i><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><b>Doggo Report</b></p><p>We are now one week into our new lives with Doggo. ICYMI from last week, she is a five month old Shepherd mix who has lived in shelters for three months. In adoption circles, there is the <a href="https://www.hsnt.org/post/the-3-3-3-rule" target="_blank">rule of 3-3-3</a>: the first three days dogs are overwhelmed by their new environment, during the next three weeks they settle in, and after three months they feel fully at home. I'd say that Doggo pretty much cleared the "3 day hump" after two nights with us and is well on her way into the second 3.</p><p>I don't have previous puppy experience to compare, but as expected she's pretty much full time hands on. Having a puppy is not for the faint of heart! Right now the days are a little long, but they are also delightful and this is temporary. One day we will have a Grown Up Dog again and we'll look back on the time that Doggo was small enough to curl up in our laps. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQY38cBwSXUkYm9itrMmdHQKkjJ8YJO9S6pNA4mWjMIm_XgCegVFf2k5HH3fbsjuhO4sRQLskP6zOHpzQTFgbzOeJEaEiZlAu7OFRDKffGpWRbC6rfpl1J2EIPg2skWMd6nJdSQwcQh-op-Et9hOMVtDMO5uuY_msLDnDzGb7l1ZdCIA2GzDac7imF90/s4032/2024-02-03%2021.22.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQY38cBwSXUkYm9itrMmdHQKkjJ8YJO9S6pNA4mWjMIm_XgCegVFf2k5HH3fbsjuhO4sRQLskP6zOHpzQTFgbzOeJEaEiZlAu7OFRDKffGpWRbC6rfpl1J2EIPg2skWMd6nJdSQwcQh-op-Et9hOMVtDMO5uuY_msLDnDzGb7l1ZdCIA2GzDac7imF90/w640-h480/2024-02-03%2021.22.08.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Right now either Hubs or I are always with her during our waking hours, with both of us being there as often as we can. At night she goes into her crate, and she usually needs a bathroom break sometime in the night. Hubs takes most of the wake ups. I take the first outing of the day when I get up so that Hubs can focus on daddy duty, and then I workout while Hubs takes over. Work is busier for me in the mornings so Hubs takes the first half of the workday and I take the afternoons. I'm on evening duty so that Hubs can get all of his night things done, and we're both around at the end of the evening for a bit. This weekend we synced our schedules so that we both had a balance of time out of the house and time with Doggo. <p></p><p>We met with a trainer. We've made a lot of progress on the sit command, we're working on crate training, and we'll take it from there. Eventually she'll get more crate time during the day, though not a lot since we're mostly home, and once she's a big girl she'll have full run of the house.</p><p>Again, speaking from my limited experience, I'd say that late January
in a mild winter is the perfect time to get a puppy because there's just
not a lot going on at this time of year.</p><p><b>Eats</b></p><p>I tried a new recipe on the fam. The last time that we got Chinese food, the Hubs changed it up from his usual moo goo gai pan to a stir fry with brown sauce. In an attempt to recreate it at home, I made <a href="https://www.recipetineats.com/real-chinese-purpose-stir-fry-sauce/" target="_blank">Recipe Tin Eats Real Chinese All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce</a>, which she nicknamed "Charlie" as in Charlie Brown since the sauce is...very brown.</p><p>The only thing that I wasn't sure about was how to scale the sauce to the amount of stir fry that I was making, so I just made a full batch of the sauce. I also didn't want to dump a quarter cup (!) of corn starch in the sauce and count on it not clumping up, so I simply thickened the sauce on its own with one tablespoon of corn starch. That gave me the nice thick sauce that I wanted with no surprises. I grabbed a bunch of Costco stir fry veggies and did chicken for the guys and fried tofu from the Asian market for me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9xuYLAgyjs8YsSyzJgbv-IFGIU6mx6ei889Nzo5B_xudmYGftLgJzn93JI3_-oY3qNnLTWe4dVbgLOs6V67mEddxBUCYUBROqla9-WZMSkfblmGqMjMbB4BHsq4B-YFU937Wz3dZrRt_byfLdK3OVNPR3RKoEBHAAVteOMIi8hRq6g8ntHQ6G6crpL4/s4032/2024-01-29%2017.17.18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9xuYLAgyjs8YsSyzJgbv-IFGIU6mx6ei889Nzo5B_xudmYGftLgJzn93JI3_-oY3qNnLTWe4dVbgLOs6V67mEddxBUCYUBROqla9-WZMSkfblmGqMjMbB4BHsq4B-YFU937Wz3dZrRt_byfLdK3OVNPR3RKoEBHAAVteOMIi8hRq6g8ntHQ6G6crpL4/w640-h480/2024-01-29%2017.17.18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>This was a winner because there's no spice (well at least there isn't if you omit the white pepper as I did) so it was good for the bland palates of the house, but there was still enough complexity that it appealed to me.</p><p><b>Workouts</b></p><p>Wow, having a puppy does put quite a spin on things! Normally I get up a 6 to start my workouts and the rest of the fam gets up at 6:30. Well, that doesn't work right now because if I got up at 6 then I'd just be on full Doggo duty until 6:30. Hey I don't mind sleeping in until 6:30! Her first visit outside goes pretty quickly. The only complication is that I had early meetings on Monday and Wednesday and so I only had time for cardio and not strength...yes even though my strength work <a href="https://stronglifts.com/stronglifts-5x5/" target="_blank">is only 15 minutes if that</a>. Chances are good that I'll be able to figure out how to get the 15 minutes in during week 2 of puppydom, and if I can't, well, I'll get back to it after Doggo settles in.<br /></p><p>The auxillary strength stuff that I'm doing outside of my normal workouts is going well. After four solid months of making sure that I'm getting in at least 3 x 10 pushups three times a week pushups are finally starting to not be that big a deal. As previously recounted after one month I felt stronger, after two months I didn't feel like I'd made much progress, after three months I felt that I was ahead of where I was at month one, and now at the end of month four I feel like I've leveled up again. Ima keep at it, and if I really feel sassy I'll start doing "push up tricks" like one legged or variations on pushups.<br /></p><p>Pull up wise, I've got a month of just hanging on the bar twice a week. At the beginning I was doing 3 x 10 seconds and now I'm doing 3 x 30 seconds...well let me clarify that "seconds" actually means "counts". I can't figure out where I would put my phone or a stopwatch where I can see if from the bar, so I just count it out slowly. Whether my counting to 30 is actually 30 seconds who knows, but it's longer than me counting to 10 seconds.</p><p>For Feb my goal is to continue the two days of bar hangs and I'll add a third day of holding myself up at the top of the bar. Stay turned to see how it turns out or if this ever ends up in me actually being able to do a pull up...a girl can dream.</p><p>I had to prioritize my time out of the house this weekend thanks to Doggo but I found time for a social event/Trader Joe's rampage on Saturday and a hike for the hiking challenge on Sunday. The hike was one of the longer ones at 6.2 miles, which has to be a distance walking record for me. Back in my running days I loved running 10k, I definitely never thought that I would walk this distance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuiqf1QdpdtUN1L79SNVUfAQ-bMyVBh2Sw_K2aA5CPnIN6tz14Xlb5p3CXMhgVTazGk6ot2lITiYMCMjTOGUmPWmoyVltWgoPecq4OH_rnrHK_qF_A8XdSLb-7UjjR07qMT3kgoDHNsV6KwAX_dkUblhYRxbNEE3-qMaYbkziwiRySX4d8eBkyU8zyKZk/s4032/2024-02-04%2010.48.24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuiqf1QdpdtUN1L79SNVUfAQ-bMyVBh2Sw_K2aA5CPnIN6tz14Xlb5p3CXMhgVTazGk6ot2lITiYMCMjTOGUmPWmoyVltWgoPecq4OH_rnrHK_qF_A8XdSLb-7UjjR07qMT3kgoDHNsV6KwAX_dkUblhYRxbNEE3-qMaYbkziwiRySX4d8eBkyU8zyKZk/w640-h480/2024-02-04%2010.48.24.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Watching</b></p><p>Pro tip: if you and your spouse are spending a lot of time together with a new puppy, it's a great opportunity to rewatch Seinfeld again.<br /></p><p><b>Read-the-Book-or-See-the-Movie</b> <br /></p><p>I finished the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beach-Nevil-Shute/dp/0307473996" target="_blank">On the Beach</a> this week, so naturally my next move was to see the movie. In case you're not familiar, it's a 1957 novel set in 1963 in the aftermath of a nuclear war where human life has been mostly wiped off the earth, with the spread of the fallout expected to eliminate all life in 9 months plus or minus three months.</p><p>The spoilerish part that I will tell you is what I suspected from page one: there is really only one way that an "aftermath of nuclear war" book can end. I noted that the author seemed somewhat distant from his characters, which is not his typical style, and my best guess is that he did it because, um, well, you know how it ended. This was an incredible book if you're in the market for an End of the World read, and let's face it, we all need that once in a while.</p><p>I was very intrigued by the casting of the movie. Big Names: Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, and Anthony Perkins. The principle characters of the novel are a young married couple with a baby, a submarine captain, a young woman who's drinking a lot to cope with the whole end of the world thing, and a young scientist. There was no question that Ava Gardner would be the Woman Who Drinks, and I imagined that Anthony Perkins would be the young scientist. By process of elimination that meant that Gregory Peck would be the sub captain, but what was Fred Astaire doing there?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dYXUX2pyTJY" width="320" youtube-src-id="dYXUX2pyTJY"></iframe></div><p></p><p>I only got Ava and Gregory right. Anthony Perkins was the young husband. The role of the scientist was rewritten to be an older man so that was Fred. But wow, this wasn't the "Fred and Ginger" Fred that I know so well. This was "Fred Astaire proving that he could do more than everything that Ginger Rogers did but not in high heels or backwards". Instead of just playing himself like he did in all of his musicals, <i>he was actually acting and playing a character.</i> And doing an incredibly good job of it! It was as amazing to watch as any of his dancing. For the rest of the cast, I don't think that I've seen Anthony Perkins in anything except Psycho and he absolutely did an incredible job here as well. There's no need to tell you that Gregory and Ava did good work cuz that's what they always do. I appreciated that her character was older in the movie.</p><p>The actors were incredible and the movie was largely faithful to the book, with a few tweaks here and there. For example, instead of being sent to investigate a mysterious radio signal in Seattle the sub crew went to California. The movie has great shots of a completely deserted San Francisco, and I'm guessing that's a more familiar sight than Seattle (at least it is to me).<br /></p><p>I just have a few quibbles. At the time it was perfectly legit in movies to have American actors speak in American accents no matter what nationality the character was. I wish they would have taken that route instead of Anthony using an Australian accent and Fred pretending to be British, but at least they didn't lay on the accents too thick. The other quibble is with the death of the race car driver. In the book he takes a euthanasia pill, which is the recommended exit method once the radiation poisoning sets in, but in the movie he commits suicide by locking himself in his garage with his car and going the carbon monoxide route because...I can't really figure out why they made that change.<br /></p><p>So which is better - book or movie? I'll go with the book but the movie was worthy and it did a better job of going deeper with the characters. Meanwhile I've had my fill of End of the World stories, so it's time to move on to something else.</p><p><b>Reading</b></p><p>In Joyce Porter rereading, I'm well into <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y8SNB3W?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_anx_cl_1&storeType=ebooks" target="_blank">Dover Two</a>. I read this book for the first time when I was 12, I've read it one million times since, and I'm absolutely gobbling it up and loving it now at the age of 48. That's serious book staying power.</p><p>And in other news...it's time for Round Two of the <a href="https://ngradstudent.blogspot.com/2024/01/cbbc-starts-next-week.html" target="_blank">Cool Bloggers Book Club</a>!!! I started <a href="https://www.amazon.com/My-Brilliant-Friend-Neapolitan-Novels/dp/1609450787" target="_blank">My Brilliant Friend</a> this weekend. I read the first week's assignment in less than an hour, so this is very doable.<br /></p><p><b><i>Peace out!</i></b><br /></p><p><br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-26341593639305304462024-01-29T21:03:00.003-05:002024-01-29T22:30:32.890-05:00Weekly Round Up: The Future is Now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpFJWJaHKJf1l_SszXyAuvUeriLxwksnx_dEa_jnVpTN4YTTVCNY-ZsK9ta2wXmEeZd2ac_lSXHYV1Z0Wk7Mv1kL3Bo0LJZ3dfUrSscVuF4ZPSqcdKfUR473k7scWU6N-RCcS3v504OVo9to1BfLv5yWHbhyphenhyphennK20iKFuGsxNW5SGkC3uSurks9479H70/s4032/Future%20Dog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpFJWJaHKJf1l_SszXyAuvUeriLxwksnx_dEa_jnVpTN4YTTVCNY-ZsK9ta2wXmEeZd2ac_lSXHYV1Z0Wk7Mv1kL3Bo0LJZ3dfUrSscVuF4ZPSqcdKfUR473k7scWU6N-RCcS3v504OVo9to1BfLv5yWHbhyphenhyphennK20iKFuGsxNW5SGkC3uSurks9479H70/w640-h480/Future%20Dog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />A weekly round up: eats, workouts, watches, and reads. If there is one update that I did not expect to be giving you this week, it is that the future is now. We were adopted by Future Dog!<br /><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>Stepdog passed away two months ago. As I related at the time, we knew right away that we would get another dog...someday. Hubs started browsing a few shelter adoption pages.<br /></p><p><a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2023/12/weekly-round-up-christmas-recap-2023.html" target="_blank">One month ago</a> we came to the conclusion that not having a dog sucks. We formed a loose plan to adopt a dog sometime in the spring, theoretically a young-but-not-a-puppy female Shepherd mix. Hubs continued to browse shelter adoption pages. <br /></p><p>As of early this week we were approaching the two month mark of Stepdog's loss and not having a dog did not suck any less. Suddenly I found myself browsing shelter pages, which was a huge change for me. I always avoided them because I though that it would be sad to see all of the animals out there who don't have homes.<br /></p><p>The next day Hubs became very taken with a listing for a five month old Shepherd mix puppy. It wasn't the spring and the dog wasn't young-but-not-a-puppy, but I told him there was no harm in meeting her. And there wasn't since she turned out to be Future Dog. We don't know her backstory except that she has been in shelters for the past three months, so 60% of her life. </p><p>I could write a book about our first 48 hours with a puppy, but it will be a better story if I save it until we're further along in our journey. It's safe to say that we have bonded and we can't imagine life without her. She wasn't housebroken and didn't know any commands, but she (and we) have made exponential progress in both areas. We crate her at night and for the brief periods that we're away during the day, but other than that Hubs and I are trading shifts on doggie duty. She's claimed the hearth by the fireplace in the back room as her "spot", so I have a million pictures of a black dog with a black background. Classic camouflage!<br /></p><p>Future Dog had a very cute shelter name, and yesterday we figured out what her "real" name is. For blogging purposes it doesn't make sense to call her Future Dog, since the future is now, and she's not a stepdog*, so let's just call her Doggo (short for Bloggo Doggo).</p><p>*We will continue to be out of town once a month for Boy Scout camp/<a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/p/the-rust-belt-travel-guide.html" target="_blank">Rust Belt travel</a> adventures. For right now we will do dog boarding/doggy sitters to help socialize Doggo, but eventually her home away from home with be with Stepdog's Mom and Stepdad - yeah yeah that's my husband's ex-wife/the boys' mom. For a variety of reasons they don't want a "full time" dog right now, but they're very interested in a "once a month" dog.</p><p><b>Eats and Workouts</b></p><p>It's all a blur. Let's skip 'em this week.</p><p><b>Watching</b></p><p>It is not a tumor! Last week I saw Twins and Junior, so this week I completed the trilogy with <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099938/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_kinderg" target="_blank">Kindergarten Cop</a>. It was fine, but definitely in last place. My ranking is Twins>Junior>Kindergarten Cop.</p><p><b>Reading</b></p><p>Still lots going on with the booky books! I finished Matthew Perry's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Friends-Lovers-Big-Terrible-Thing/dp/1250866448" target="_blank">Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing</a>. I think this is a love it or hate it kind of deal - you're either going to be turned off by bottomless fame and drug addiction or find it sad and profound. </p><p>Big surprise, I started another Nevil Shute book! <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beach-Nevil-Shute/dp/0307473996" target="_blank">On the Beach</a> is his most famous book, and I own it so I would assume that I've read it before but I remember nothing. The book was written in 1957 and it's set in 1963 in the aftermath of a nuclear war. Life has been wiped out on most of the globe except for parts of Australia and Africa, and estimate is that the fallout will reach all of Australia in about nine months, plus or minus three months. The way that civilization has adapted is to keep a stiff upper lip and live as close to a normal life as possible, even though everyone knows that nothing is normal. The story deals with the crew of a submarine who are sent to investigate a radio signal coming from Seattle, where all known life has been wiped out.</p><p>My only criticism of the book is exactly what I said about <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2022/12/weekly-round-up-solstice-countdown.html" target="_blank">Station Eleven</a> - there's something just a little cold about the characters that makes it hard to bond with them. This is really unusual for Shute since his typical book revolves around a central character that you absolutely adore and are rooting for. I'm about 2/3 of the way in, and it will be interesting to see if the story keeps the characters at arm's length or brings them closer to us. I'm just going to take a wild guess that the story isn't going to end with the whole "end of the world" thing being a false alarm and everyone living happily ever after. And also I think this book would make an excellent pairing with Station Eleven.<br /></p><p><b><i>Peace out! If anyone needs me, I'll be snuggling with Doggo.</i></b><br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-51201725139711795232024-01-26T09:49:00.001-05:002024-01-26T09:50:22.844-05:00Let's Have Fun With Vinegar: A Cleaning Success Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaY8mCjIfcnOLAcA5aIl6eLuOG-EeRtouTIClMQO2-3LtXytJuGVunoU2-0T7rwEyPKN6KPD_24QPjPL8Re4MXT5k1zdcy55qPJZDjqwCLl4oxnBrB_uGMG9s6acDLraABq0UTKgKEnTmAW0RXlRWmCWKfOXqxF8UYapUqRKJzi1dFK7y_i0Ot40RImKw/s4032/2024-01-23%2021.36.28.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaY8mCjIfcnOLAcA5aIl6eLuOG-EeRtouTIClMQO2-3LtXytJuGVunoU2-0T7rwEyPKN6KPD_24QPjPL8Re4MXT5k1zdcy55qPJZDjqwCLl4oxnBrB_uGMG9s6acDLraABq0UTKgKEnTmAW0RXlRWmCWKfOXqxF8UYapUqRKJzi1dFK7y_i0Ot40RImKw/w480-h640/2024-01-23%2021.36.28.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Friends, we're here today to talk dirty.<p></p><p></p><p>Or clean depending on your point of view. This is the story of how our master bathroom went from looking shabby to spiffy thanks to a $3.79 investment in a gallon of distilled vinegar.<br /></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><i>Warning: Vinegar is not appropriate for use on all surfaces. Please research your own particular bathroom surface materials before having your own fun with vinegar. </i></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrJi_jFj7DUKyasMi8FmQfgtXw0NVpW4k3lmMqCkvqKJc9vShxGy2DmNnUbfc_zFyAGPpEQ8MBb_NOlB94l3_5e5PGJFzx_sB7cwE6dLY34Sm86YxZDRUt_xJOyxPBp-Dqi5Y0ldKVWgL2pmdfUb-wUC9nljoOvngXsKgSBak3ckgDdsY-SNuReCqyMY/s4032/2024-01-26%2008.42.38.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrJi_jFj7DUKyasMi8FmQfgtXw0NVpW4k3lmMqCkvqKJc9vShxGy2DmNnUbfc_zFyAGPpEQ8MBb_NOlB94l3_5e5PGJFzx_sB7cwE6dLY34Sm86YxZDRUt_xJOyxPBp-Dqi5Y0ldKVWgL2pmdfUb-wUC9nljoOvngXsKgSBak3ckgDdsY-SNuReCqyMY/w480-h640/2024-01-26%2008.42.38.jpg" width="480" /></a></i></div><p></p><p>I'm a simple gal with a simple mind who likes to save a buck, so
naturally I'm drawn to very basic cleaning products. Why throw money
down the drain when you can throw baking soda and vinegar down there
instead?</p><p>After years of experimentation, these have become my go-to products. <br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Homemade
all purpose counter cleaner: combine 2 cups of hot water, 1/2 teaspoon of
washing soda, and a squirt of dishwashing soap - the purpose of the hot water is to dissolve the washing soda and soap, you mix it up once and you can continue to use it indefinitely like any other spray cleaner . I got this recipe from a
blog called The Simple Dollar that apparently doesn't exist anymore:-(</li><li>SoftScrub for sinks and tubs <br /></li><li>Cinch glass cleaner</li><li>Folex carpet cleaner </li></ul>I've
heard so many times that the only cleaning products that anyone ever
needs are vinegar and baking soda, but my experiences have been mixed.
In a pinch I'll use a paste of baking soda if I'm out of SoftScrub, but
overall I feel that keeping a clean house requires something more than
these products plus elbow grease.<p>However lately our master bathroom wasn't looking so great. There was a large stain near the drain that formed over the course of a few years and in recent months the scuff marks joined the party. We had a host of other "sins" in the form of water stains on the glass shower door and rings around all of our bathroom sinks.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XpY9qtzZEBg4Yy5dun7_IioAucXDTvmvnZ48Acd4I6o6gZxfVir122MpIS235bPxJeHeaNKY_sFYaR5FlAiHw21-HLu2b10nl1jDqqQdofPCTO1RtUJbULBcF-AmaEFB4lIn1PxOklTHdci7a6tk7lqd1UDG3dr6Cp1m28WOyxpJACyr271QQwBPJYE/s4032/2024-01-15%2008.36.22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XpY9qtzZEBg4Yy5dun7_IioAucXDTvmvnZ48Acd4I6o6gZxfVir122MpIS235bPxJeHeaNKY_sFYaR5FlAiHw21-HLu2b10nl1jDqqQdofPCTO1RtUJbULBcF-AmaEFB4lIn1PxOklTHdci7a6tk7lqd1UDG3dr6Cp1m28WOyxpJACyr271QQwBPJYE/w640-h480/2024-01-15%2008.36.22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>Thanks for asking, yes I clean the bathrooms every week, and until recently I had a good track record of them not looking like this. Either my scrubbing skills have deteriorated or the formula for SoftScrub has changed - I report, you decide.<br /><p>If there's one thing that I can't stand, it's putting effort into
something and getting negative results. Slaving away at cleaning our shower only to have it look like I hadn't cleaned the shower is not my style. Guys, I was <this close> to (gasp!) <i>paying someone to
clean our bathrooms</i>. This is a story of how a crazy tip on the internet turned things around.</p><p><b>Past Successes with Vinegar</b> <br /></p>Vinegar is a rock star at removing hard water stains. I don't know why anyone would use anything else to clean their shower head. Here's the procedure:<br /><p>Step 1: take a good look at your shower head and recoil in utter disgust.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GZAaWvqkFCbviRrcTfkSlQCy-nb7aw__6bor3Xj6btdjcV0SC6qagTe_t80a8RBrUXbPDCFjdoyFDYx4oke1hiA7ASeFLP2Di4CMCUAK29aceRHzeunYL31KJTAGw_f7VZ2O_KSgrhMe_GxURIBnxramWGkxQcqpvIQnvuVSUTAarpJiuWYdL8zsw0w/s4032/2024-01-17%2009.16.57.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GZAaWvqkFCbviRrcTfkSlQCy-nb7aw__6bor3Xj6btdjcV0SC6qagTe_t80a8RBrUXbPDCFjdoyFDYx4oke1hiA7ASeFLP2Di4CMCUAK29aceRHzeunYL31KJTAGw_f7VZ2O_KSgrhMe_GxURIBnxramWGkxQcqpvIQnvuVSUTAarpJiuWYdL8zsw0w/w640-h480/2024-01-17%2009.16.57.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Step 2: remove the shower head and soak it in a mixture of 50% vinegar and 50% water overnight.<br /><p></p><p>Step 3: pull a sparkling clean shower head out of the solution and carry on with your life.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGJzHBvStUZIQqoHeWvvZOnkzIpG2eNDqBBbo_dbyzqs7-vdTpdTyouzMzNKcsSbGb3vAS-TwzIY3P2E5nWN2mNPyoJ7KLyJbIFsyLlt83MGaSV9JJs5e_AgzNHy4-3vYfDi9DfsfVmG-fmKqUOTgPwTZVHDQ2aba373GZgUMfAXER_FzV0kCWUuswg0/s4032/2024-01-17%2016.17.09.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGJzHBvStUZIQqoHeWvvZOnkzIpG2eNDqBBbo_dbyzqs7-vdTpdTyouzMzNKcsSbGb3vAS-TwzIY3P2E5nWN2mNPyoJ7KLyJbIFsyLlt83MGaSV9JJs5e_AgzNHy4-3vYfDi9DfsfVmG-fmKqUOTgPwTZVHDQ2aba373GZgUMfAXER_FzV0kCWUuswg0/w640-h480/2024-01-17%2016.17.09.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>It's really that easy. But the limitation of vinegar is that you can't soak your entire shower in it. Take it from me, if you spray vinegar on your shower all that will happen is that it will drip off, accomplishing nothing.</p><p><b>Things That Haven't Worked</b></p><p>Over the years I've tried many bathroom cleaners that have not delivered. Sometimes I use a homemade shower cleaner that is as mediocre as anything that I can buy.<br /></p><p>One miracle that I've seen touted many times is to combine vinegar and Dawn soap in a spray bottle. A few months ago I finally got around to trying the miracle. The results:<br /></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>It did diddly squat to improve the appearance of our shower.</li><li>It was not pleasant to work with. Everyone is all "vinegar is natural" but if you put it in a spray bottle and let lose with it in an enclosed space like a bathroom, you're going to get hit with a waft of vinegar fumes.<br /></li></ol><p><b>A Crazy Google Result</b><br /></p><p>I did a last ditch google search for miracle shower cleaners. After I clicked past all of the "dawn and vinegar" results I saw something new: a crazy statement that water stains on ceramic tiles can be removed by applying a paper towel soaked with vinegar and letting it sit for a few hours. Easy enough but if it works why have I never heard about this technique in my 48 years on this earth?</p><p>I knew it wouldn't work but since it didn't cost me anything to try I took a shot at it. I covered the offending areas of the shower floor with paper towels and poured vinegar over them.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBs_L6h9W9fZcdHmVBlB021noKViX1GHkTqpgwC7-Dqcw1WfHRRMbheTWa_JuZlzjZ36HP-kD7mvR95ifPefLJ9xKrt-cCt3Q5EB55ui0Ine_CdUGo1SB2p88UxOQPEVOQrToN03pNuXp5Y3Z3D3OQKmLNsxti3eDbC0yDQH1yN8T7TQqjlQMMLz2TPyM/s4032/2024-01-15%2008.39.27.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBs_L6h9W9fZcdHmVBlB021noKViX1GHkTqpgwC7-Dqcw1WfHRRMbheTWa_JuZlzjZ36HP-kD7mvR95ifPefLJ9xKrt-cCt3Q5EB55ui0Ine_CdUGo1SB2p88UxOQPEVOQrToN03pNuXp5Y3Z3D3OQKmLNsxti3eDbC0yDQH1yN8T7TQqjlQMMLz2TPyM/w640-h480/2024-01-15%2008.39.27.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I kind of remembered that the tip said to leave the paper towels on for an hour, so about an hour later I came back. I could see the stains through the paper towels mocking me. Yep, I fell for another useless tip on the internet - what else is new?<br /></p><p>I walked away for another hour. When I came back I was befuddled that I didn't see the scuff marks anymore. Huh...</p><p>Sure enough the scuff marks were gone. The marks around the drain were still present, but I could see patches where the stain was coming off. I scrubbed at it for a bit, applied fresh paper towels and vinegar, and walked away again for a few more hours.</p><p>End result:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgxCVwGeNj5HHLVD58zRX7HwOlQZsHDFYgCbM8gR-Rf5ZuPNDSwpoYDD_9AbX6Gx4Ydt2vv_CRS4qs4XimXrlDu49cI7-MnW-mo3vFXAN8zlGA9YZ-GEWm5lhFK3WJ4RIMwVuaSWbyLQAMJ5uLQU6GL_JB07SjFYpRMC-eh9l2pz6X5fZQ9zSTtO4fcs/s4032/2024-01-23%2021.37.18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgxCVwGeNj5HHLVD58zRX7HwOlQZsHDFYgCbM8gR-Rf5ZuPNDSwpoYDD_9AbX6Gx4Ydt2vv_CRS4qs4XimXrlDu49cI7-MnW-mo3vFXAN8zlGA9YZ-GEWm5lhFK3WJ4RIMwVuaSWbyLQAMJ5uLQU6GL_JB07SjFYpRMC-eh9l2pz6X5fZQ9zSTtO4fcs/w640-h480/2024-01-23%2021.37.18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>In full transparency, there is still a very faint water mark at the edge of the stain that was around the drain. But it's so faint as to be almost non-existent.</p><p>Over the course of the next few days I had more fun with vinegar. Here is our bathroom sink before:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4L6wcA5qBttdR87cMC8fM_AXcc0AjD37T8WqCO976qxOhj1vo2TpqV1w4IZ1E-lBSZ0pWnIVr27_CZD2mK8LX7HXoh-XAVCV5L7FyCVKIAXFhdcG_9ThfnHnjEOGjpg_rl_O4cEnDpooNJVxhmewvMZJXheAFJn0fO-WF7JKfBm1siI5M4AKST_HRnU/s4032/2024-01-17%2009.22.42.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4L6wcA5qBttdR87cMC8fM_AXcc0AjD37T8WqCO976qxOhj1vo2TpqV1w4IZ1E-lBSZ0pWnIVr27_CZD2mK8LX7HXoh-XAVCV5L7FyCVKIAXFhdcG_9ThfnHnjEOGjpg_rl_O4cEnDpooNJVxhmewvMZJXheAFJn0fO-WF7JKfBm1siI5M4AKST_HRnU/w640-h480/2024-01-17%2009.22.42.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Here is a picture of a paper towel soaked in vinegar left to sit on the drain for a few hours:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHYZC1fEFuizBrV6e6MLETojcmSiTEqGRrwQtmUZCmk2sUar9tjpZF3VirLvlXBjpXavkowDzh0ktrEOsA4tIiFqjb5IacJyzcs_bcIQs1N1wqQAFADiZ_fKIOsp610-FJjyeOpE2Uerg_myMugh-bWQCXZsY1YMVOoPUyYSDqLEfn51fQzT4HPxO4I0/s4032/2024-01-17%2009.23.27.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHYZC1fEFuizBrV6e6MLETojcmSiTEqGRrwQtmUZCmk2sUar9tjpZF3VirLvlXBjpXavkowDzh0ktrEOsA4tIiFqjb5IacJyzcs_bcIQs1N1wqQAFADiZ_fKIOsp610-FJjyeOpE2Uerg_myMugh-bWQCXZsY1YMVOoPUyYSDqLEfn51fQzT4HPxO4I0/w640-h480/2024-01-17%2009.23.27.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>And here is the "after". There are some tiny patches of the stain remaining, but you can't see them when the drain stopper is in place so I've left them for now. I'll get 'em next time.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_v2guJQwl6Jss2R69hLmofduUt8cK3zgai9f36mZl_t-zSin2Mho_DYtzpGSe6bSkjhHBj1NPxuMSXZCz1-KhCJKjS3DmVe44LZchROjOPUVzE31hsXI3wOH8DAl_REQs5dmh-szaO3VD_tobeeNpXA_WLkLgVXkd_efhHuoLEHrmumO7amsLF0wk8N0/s4032/2024-01-17%2016.14.28.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_v2guJQwl6Jss2R69hLmofduUt8cK3zgai9f36mZl_t-zSin2Mho_DYtzpGSe6bSkjhHBj1NPxuMSXZCz1-KhCJKjS3DmVe44LZchROjOPUVzE31hsXI3wOH8DAl_REQs5dmh-szaO3VD_tobeeNpXA_WLkLgVXkd_efhHuoLEHrmumO7amsLF0wk8N0/w640-h480/2024-01-17%2016.14.28.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Now let's check out the shower door before:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxjjR-zqf5BiMF30J9vD0JNojbN5oTCZsuCBmIZ9fHGirY398jur82PUIp3BqMr9Hde1cwpXG0pLzc65WxADPrsR_DpeM9JpdYF9ycf-SHk1xA5lIuRVo6hAQ3W5V-FP10rodOHsaXPQS_THabtHOqERObHTtlFGwE8kRsrIAfS1PmG7b9azWxzq-gZY/s4032/2024-01-15%2011.12.15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxjjR-zqf5BiMF30J9vD0JNojbN5oTCZsuCBmIZ9fHGirY398jur82PUIp3BqMr9Hde1cwpXG0pLzc65WxADPrsR_DpeM9JpdYF9ycf-SHk1xA5lIuRVo6hAQ3W5V-FP10rodOHsaXPQS_THabtHOqERObHTtlFGwE8kRsrIAfS1PmG7b9azWxzq-gZY/w640-h480/2024-01-15%2011.12.15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Here's the after on that. The results are only partially due to vinegar. I used a few vinegar soaked paper towels on the worst of the build up, but lining the entire glass surface was too labor intensive. While I was doing my research I came across <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HTZE5DQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">this product</a> and decided to sink $10 into it. After that I gave everything a good shine with Cinch. Here is the end result:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3cGCdD63nSaHJZmbMuVjzowN9FyhfmkQZ-MG1yttjoht4wRZNfLT_Ej3l9ZhXpsC3AGDUH4YZuTvovF4y4QpsXJnmgQHCU9FykwMBpn395K9HDQbJdVVWG0TFT08-H1MVddcod2cNUhRzlPD6Dv6lEALPufZEJCJELGul-bG1Aa3YwjDER4zovpsjUg/s4032/2024-01-15%2014.55.24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3cGCdD63nSaHJZmbMuVjzowN9FyhfmkQZ-MG1yttjoht4wRZNfLT_Ej3l9ZhXpsC3AGDUH4YZuTvovF4y4QpsXJnmgQHCU9FykwMBpn395K9HDQbJdVVWG0TFT08-H1MVddcod2cNUhRzlPD6Dv6lEALPufZEJCJELGul-bG1Aa3YwjDER4zovpsjUg/w640-h480/2024-01-15%2014.55.24.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>IRL there is still the ghost of a water stain, but the worst of it is gone.</p><p>Any rate, that's what I've been doing for fun and excitement lately. I've repeated the procedure on our other sinks and if the stains come back I'll know how to deal with them.</p><p><b><i>Any vinegar success stories to share? What are your favorite cleaning products? I'm still in search of a product for our shower walls.</i></b><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p><p> <br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-30434516270445735382024-01-24T19:31:00.000-05:002024-01-24T19:31:08.054-05:00A Matter of Planning<p>Hey Friends, today we're talking about my understanding of planners and bullet journals. This post was inspired by <a href="https://my-commonplacebook.com/" target="_blank">Anne's</a> comment <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2024/01/weekly-round-up-hello-winter.html" target="_blank">on this post</a> (PS here is the link to <a href="https://gratefulkae.com/" target="_blank">Kae's blog</a> that she mentions).<br /></p><p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcAVyc6paxAEupZ9rjEMfzpb-FFDSu9vAbXWV-6lXqS0KArTFBipmbusoBfTnuSAIXUbWJWszKRvFrtQ9mjbpsSbn6_KGPUwvpX5f_CPcYMmKIAyhbinWk3nyovLroCBV2KDZOr7eDnfRhBP6ZpWc0tojTXmy_9lJsZ4nPoN4nRTcmRv4KmZIZKM6u7g/s1446/Screenshot%202024-01-23%20at%202.54.25%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="1446" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcAVyc6paxAEupZ9rjEMfzpb-FFDSu9vAbXWV-6lXqS0KArTFBipmbusoBfTnuSAIXUbWJWszKRvFrtQ9mjbpsSbn6_KGPUwvpX5f_CPcYMmKIAyhbinWk3nyovLroCBV2KDZOr7eDnfRhBP6ZpWc0tojTXmy_9lJsZ4nPoN4nRTcmRv4KmZIZKM6u7g/w640-h432/Screenshot%202024-01-23%20at%202.54.25%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Takeaways:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Yes we need a central Cool Bloggers Forum to discuss Cool Blogger Stuff in detail.</li><li>I wanted to tell Anne more about how I organized my "I made it up myself" Excel sheet, but it was too bulky for a comment. Is it enough material for a dedicated post? Let's find out!<span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></li></ul><p><i>Confession: I'm not sure whether to call this thing that I'm doing "a
planner" or "a bullet journal". That's why you'll hear me use both
terms<b>.<br /></b></i></p><p><b>My History With Planners and Bullet Journals</b></p><p>Nada. The closest that I've ever come is my work Outlook and personal Google calendars. I mean, everything that I do is either because I *have* to do it or because I *want* to do it, so either way you look at it, I'm motivated to get stuff done.<br /></p><p>Recently I started reading <a href="https://theshubox.com/" target="_blank">SHU's blog</a> and listening to <a href="https://theshubox.com/best-laid-plans-podcast" target="_blank">her podcast</a>, and that plus the chatter that I've been hearing about planners/bullet journals elsewhere on the bloggos got me interested. I feel that I could be better at time management, and also I want to break the cycle of work bleeding over into my non-work life. I wasn't sure exactly how a planner would help, but I was interested in putting a toe in the water.<br /></p><p>I know enough about myself to know that having a physical planner is not my jam at this stage in my life - I always know where my phone and computer are, so I don't want the added chore of keeping track of where the planner is. I'm sure there are a ton of digital products out there, but I wanted something free and private. I wasn't sure whether Word or Excel was the best medium, but after thinking about it for a bit my accountant's heart settled on Excel.<br /></p><p><b>Getting Started</b> <br /></p><p>I hit up Google to get a feel for what a planner/bullet journal is supposed to have. The typical contents that I saw were an index, a future page, some kind of monthly/weekly/daily pages, a lot of them include meal/nutrition/fitness plans, yada yada. I found a few Excel templates out there but they looked too in depth/not me so I doodled around and sketched out what I wanted in a blank file.</p><p>Hopefully the screenshot will be somewhat readable, and yes I've taken out a few personal things that I didn't want to share. But here's the gist of what I came up with. I highlight things in yellow as I do them, and I'll explain what the peach highlights are in a moment.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeGkXx_40Te4DzEBIPFbH4jkFf3Ojzc0GKCCvDg46EXAZmuWfqEemy00ajf8zs6zcXhzFWfQNuRcvobCviKq0g4d_Ny-y6wlLOxOjDBKEufQhygiOgt5f9cGmKukM0GDFcqmrbrLdcDBiDpmLetHjFKS6KOsmKgrlpfOxKZoGpAaDcRdYDN-gysYi7EM/s1760/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-23%20at%208.41.39%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1760" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeGkXx_40Te4DzEBIPFbH4jkFf3Ojzc0GKCCvDg46EXAZmuWfqEemy00ajf8zs6zcXhzFWfQNuRcvobCviKq0g4d_Ny-y6wlLOxOjDBKEufQhygiOgt5f9cGmKukM0GDFcqmrbrLdcDBiDpmLetHjFKS6KOsmKgrlpfOxKZoGpAaDcRdYDN-gysYi7EM/w640-h366/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-23%20at%208.41.39%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Index tab - uh, right now I don't have very many tabs so I don't need an index. Currently this tab has a <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2024/01/weekly-round-up-goal-digger.html" target="_blank">list of my annual goals</a>.<br /></li><li>2024 tab
(shown in screen shot) - I think properly this should be the "future" tab in a Real
Planner/Bullet journal. Once I started sketching things out, it was
simple enough to just do the whole year on one tab. I don't feel the
need for separate monthly or weekly tabs since it's easy enough to just filter
the dates if I want to drill down to a narrower time range. The categories
that I came up with were:</li><ul><li>Thing - generally this is for "have to do" things like appointments. In my case I'm also using it as a prompt to <i>schedule</i>
appointments. Example, I needed to schedule a dermatology appointment and after procrastinating on it for a while I gave myself the task of scheduling it on January 15th==>and sure enough I made the call and got an appointment just two days later. This column also includes prompts to start working on various annual goals.<br /></li><li>Event
- similar to the thing column, but more for fun stuff, like birthdays and anniversaries. Since I
have Scout Camp in the "thing" column, it's easy to see what days I can
book for travel. I ended up not going to Indy due to a winter storm,
so I just crossed it off.<br /></li><li>Hike - I'm doing a hiking
challenge that goes through June, and the hikes are numbered. My goal
is to do one hike a week, and to start I just filtered the list by
Saturdays and numbered in 1-20. I've been able to do more than planned,
so I've changed the cells to the actuals as I've gone along. Due to
weather I chose to do hike #9 instead of hike #5 last weekend.<br /></li><li>Fitness
- this isn't for my regular workouts - I track those somewhere else.
This is for the "extras" that I tend to forget. This column is
specifically for the pushups that I do 3x per week - to get here all
that I did was to filter for every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in 2024
and filled in pushups.<br /></li><li>Fitness 2 - this is for my baby pull
up goal. Currently I've only filled in pull up bar hangs on Mondays
and Fridays in January. In February I'll figure out if I want to just
keep doing that or add something more to it. As you can see there was a
Friday when I didn't get around to doing either of my fitness add-ons
so they got the peach highlight and a ^ to indicate that I did them the
next day.<br /></li><li>DL - the boring one. DL stands for DuoLingo and I try to do one unit per weekday for the native language where my employer is located. It's better than nothing, though how much better than nothing I'm not sure.<br /></li><li>Cool Stuff - this is to document unexpected, fun stuff that happens.<br /></li></ul></ul><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Daily Tab - this is too messy to show, but I've got a few lines for each day. TBH I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with this information but the point is that I've got it. It feels doable to have an entire month on one tab, and I'm pretty sure that I'll end up with "Daily" tabs for each month.<br /></li><ul><li>Daily mood: I stole this from the <a href="https://evidation.com/" target="_blank">Evidation</a> app, I track my mood every day but the app doesn't let me see the data afterwards.<br /></li><li>Sleep: also stolen from Evidation. I include notes about any insights I have about whether my sleep was good or bad.</li><li>Workouts: a list of what I did for exercise that day.</li><li>Media: I stole this idea directly from SHU! A list of podcasts, TV, books, movies, etc. I'm not documenting every frikin' YouTube video that I watch, but I'm doing the best that I can.</li><li>Work Experience Tracker: how I feel about the work day overall. I just recently added this because I want a way to quantify my overall work experience - the "it's fine, I don't mind this" days, the OK days, the boring days, and the horrible days.<br /></li><li>A few sentences about what happened that day.</li></ul></ul><p>(Hmmm...I probably need to move the daily mood/sleep/and work experience items to the 2024 tab and give them their own columns...like I said, this is all a work in progress). <br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Meals - this is dual purpose meal planning/food log. I'm still working on the format.</li><li>Miles - just for fun, I'm tracking the slowest and fastest miles for my hiking challenge. So far the fastest mile is 17 minutes and the slowest has been almost 30 minutes.</li><li>Cleaning - snooze. I have some cleaning goalz for the house but I'm not ready to officially write them down or track them yet. So far I'm just taking notes on a few specialty projects that I've taken on this year. Spoiler, I'm going to write a post soon about one of these projects. </li></ul>So that's how I've started, and I'm sure that I'll be adding other tabs to the sheet as the year progresses. Let's talk about how it's going.<br /><p><b>How It's Going Observations</b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Overall my time does feel more manageable. I can't explain exactly why, and maybe it's a coincidence and there are other factors. But I <i>think</i> it has something to do with being able to see all of my stuff in one place<br /></li><li>I still use my Outlook and Google calendars for appointments - I need something besides this sheet to tell me when it's 15 minutes before an appointment and to block off my work calendar for me.</li><li>I think that somehow the planner/Bullet Journal makes it easier to do things that I don't want to do. For a case study, let's look at doctor's appointments. At the beginning of the year I had a whole host of medical appointments to schedule for a bunch of routine, boring stuff. Example: the dermatologist for a skin check. Look, I don't want to do any of these appointments let alone make the phone calls to set them up. There's also no urgency besides getting them done sometime this year. So I scheduled in the task of making ONE APPOINTMENT PER MONTH. Even I can keep up with that.<br /></li></ul><p><b><i>So anyway, that's my starting approach to this new world of planners/bullet journals. Tell me everything about how you do it.</i></b><br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-26567637330140435602024-01-22T20:44:00.004-05:002024-01-22T20:50:45.132-05:00Weekly Round Up: Let's Not Go Places<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbyY10xVFDgg76Dvybhap4bjAAH39q5PXQWreIfm-uTOVWyOk6lFosduaGcic1aHL4BmonNOKS2fkK9DcIa9oWFrbXm2Kb1C9JjkzzfxmLL12QQPhyivmQPEEEELApIu8o1uWJgCilbzkQwjVhJas4Nvh2U78ckjLDLgNPQnuM72xc0pMG44r7rep5Kg/s4032/2024-01-21%2015.22.49.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbyY10xVFDgg76Dvybhap4bjAAH39q5PXQWreIfm-uTOVWyOk6lFosduaGcic1aHL4BmonNOKS2fkK9DcIa9oWFrbXm2Kb1C9JjkzzfxmLL12QQPhyivmQPEEEELApIu8o1uWJgCilbzkQwjVhJas4Nvh2U78ckjLDLgNPQnuM72xc0pMG44r7rep5Kg/w480-h640/2024-01-21%2015.22.49.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>A weekly round up: eats, workouts, watches, and reads. This week a winter storm meant giving up the weekend that I planned for the weekend that I was meant to have.</p><p>We have quite a bit to talk about just for the normal "weekly round up" and I've got at least two posts' worth of other stuff to dish on, so I think we're looking at a Monday - Wednesday - Friday posting schedule this week. The extra topics are planners and cleaning. Hey come back! I'll do my best to make the cleaning one interesting.</p><p>Today let's talk about my winter weekend at home, epic food, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the hot new documentary that rubbed me the wrong way, and books books books books books books books.<br /></p><p><i>Heads up: I will be discussing (and dissing) a show called You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment so skip the watching section if you don't want the spoilers. <br /></i></p><p><i><span></span></i></p><a name='more'></a>This was Boy Scout camp weekend. When the rest of my family takes to the woods I look at the calendar. If it's March through November, I go <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/p/the-rust-belt-travel-guide.html" target="_blank">somewhere fun</a>. If it's December through February I stay home. The weather is likely to be bad in these months, and a lot of the tourist attractions up here are closed in the winter.<br /><p></p><p>However, there are exceptions to the "everything is closed in winter" rule and wow Indianapolis you have got it going on! I went down the google rabbit hole and came up with a long list of things to do...so much that I think I will need more than one visit to get through it all. And oh my, Airbnb prices were super sweet and there were lots of fun places to stay. Granted it was going to be extremely cold, but also granted that as long as cold was the only weather issue, it looked like a fun weekend.</p><p>On Tuesday the weekend forecast was no drama except for cold. The places that I had tagged on my Airbnb wish list were starting to get snapped up, so I made my move and booked an apartment. I felt pretty smug that I was going to squeak in a fun getaway in the dead of winter instead of sitting around at home.</p><p>The reality is that with each passing day the forecast got worse. School was cancelled and there was a travel advisory for Friday. The Airbnb wasn't refundable, but (1) it wasn't a lot of money so I didn't have a lot to lose to start with and (2) I've been dabbling in the world of credit card travel rewards and one of the perks of the card that I used is travel insurance.<br /></p><p>Current status: I filed a claim with the credit card which will take a few weeks to settle, and then the Airbnb host unexpectedly refunded the cleaning fee, so even if the claim gets rejected, I have less cash out of pocket. Indianapolis will still be there when the weather is better, and I feel pretty smug that I had a cozy weekend at home instead of hassling with a long drive in winter. Lesson learned, I will never book another Dec-Feb trip any further in advance than the day of.<br /></p><p><b>Eats</b></p><p>One of the items on my <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2024/01/weekly-round-up-goal-digger.html" target="_blank">Goalz list for 2024</a> was to make 20 new recipes for my my own (non-family) meals, with the specific note that I've been craving Indian food forever. Well, well, now that I was going to be Home Alone on Friday and Saturday it was time to do something about that. I hit the internets in search of a butter chicken recipe (without chicken of course since I hate chicken). Google hooked me up with <a href="https://www.noracooks.com/" target="_blank">Nora Cooks</a>. I was browsing before lunch on Friday, and her recipe for <a href="https://www.noracooks.com/curry-chickpea-salad/ " target="_blank">curry chickpea salad</a> also caught my eye. (1) it looked good, (2) it gave me a chance to use up another stalk of the celery that I'd gotten for the beef stew that we had last week that was most likely headed for the trash, (3) I'd just come across a jar of chutney that I'd gotten from Trader Joe's a while ago and had never gotten around to using, and finally (4) it fits in with my <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2024/01/weekly-round-up-currypalooza.html" target="_blank">Currypalooza theme</a>. (1) was enough of a reason and everything else was gravy. I headed to the kitchen ASAP.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcET1tBPQ6PkRZz3kcMa5R07Ey9xZubTjEL4ZdgQYoOw5nmEVfhzTgI1FI5jJWhrB5ZU3GdWnPn-vKLv4p7fsEuBLhRp0YuTYS7x-WShDLnXXuXGu7lvcIAksiyuKTeUMVohs8Ol_7otXdTv3cnPfibyKjtBQIpteD22CrRQz61UtxF3qUEm3R1p252JQ/s4032/2024-01-19%2014.15.20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcET1tBPQ6PkRZz3kcMa5R07Ey9xZubTjEL4ZdgQYoOw5nmEVfhzTgI1FI5jJWhrB5ZU3GdWnPn-vKLv4p7fsEuBLhRp0YuTYS7x-WShDLnXXuXGu7lvcIAksiyuKTeUMVohs8Ol_7otXdTv3cnPfibyKjtBQIpteD22CrRQz61UtxF3qUEm3R1p252JQ/w640-h480/2024-01-19%2014.15.20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>The only downside is that of course beans are very filling, and the amount of the salad that I needed to fill out a wrap kept me full long past dinner time. Or maybe it's an upside that it ended up being both lunch and dinner? The solution is that next time I will have this as a sandwich and not a wrap. But it was quite delicious and I do believe this will be part of my regular lunch rotation.<br /></p><p>Now about that <a href="https://www.noracooks.com/vegan-butter-chicken" target="_blank">butter not-chicken</a>...I made it on Saturday night. It was good but not amazing on Saturday but when I heated up the leftovers for lunch today...oooooooooooooooh. We've just made the leap to food porn up in here. The flavors did not "marry", they had a full on orgy. My recommendation is to make this a day ahead so that you get the full party effect.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVm_2zlBNiEa7rKn0Dki-FprwvWEF1ZP_OBXD15ipyaV-F9CdE9Qs_l2b6HltH5Iqg8PMi5wSVG0b9nDUmarJTYCoEC92TNXGnu9dM4284nyzP60WQ8Bw0sqq9aChnC8ah6Jgap5wmA6WT5yuN-13EvsySWH_K_CFl3i2eBxppEYk1JE2rTSewviyY7L8/s4032/2024-01-22%2011.50.11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVm_2zlBNiEa7rKn0Dki-FprwvWEF1ZP_OBXD15ipyaV-F9CdE9Qs_l2b6HltH5Iqg8PMi5wSVG0b9nDUmarJTYCoEC92TNXGnu9dM4284nyzP60WQ8Bw0sqq9aChnC8ah6Jgap5wmA6WT5yuN-13EvsySWH_K_CFl3i2eBxppEYk1JE2rTSewviyY7L8/w640-h480/2024-01-22%2011.50.11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Speaking of porn, Costco had a wicked looking chocolate mousse cake so I snagged that for the fam, but of course I had a slice on Saturday just to make sure that it was good enough for them. It was.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7saR0cka4OSbk89s8cwRUMVE0rQKi6PvlSgk4q88WWRH7dlUI-YSaPhxzpH3p2H3Q1mnxuXHStHDR_F-Ncm5VCp_eei3_3NiFoz2d5TCdFUyNW7J_dEbNfcjyRIiv1FHzRShq_VVcrYHUHSou5-mon9wG8A1c1wIznG8s6l5v0srDwF5Y_vMid5Lbm8/s4032/2024-01-20%2018.36.02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7saR0cka4OSbk89s8cwRUMVE0rQKi6PvlSgk4q88WWRH7dlUI-YSaPhxzpH3p2H3Q1mnxuXHStHDR_F-Ncm5VCp_eei3_3NiFoz2d5TCdFUyNW7J_dEbNfcjyRIiv1FHzRShq_VVcrYHUHSou5-mon9wG8A1c1wIznG8s6l5v0srDwF5Y_vMid5Lbm8/w640-h480/2024-01-20%2018.36.02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><b>Workouts</b></p><p>The usual, nothing notable to report. Originally I was planning to do zero hikes for the hiking challenge due to travel and the cold but by Sunday it warmed up enough to get out there. Here's a picture of the tree trunk that I climbed over on this week's hike.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZTnw-sycFdKTuIzT2bhCPEnfO-c40nQ4t0VFdGq7RE-7IQ5W9cG8MYiuG168kiKHm5h6SsoxrIwXO4VlbJA_xQhtBdohI7cWnrXkwxxMyn4S2Q4gnX0QnhBhPorUmGKrO64CuzErXKV1wuNcGfcVX6aclD4hGsPhZBoPYXg05onQSTnVQ-CbpmnDVCY/s4032/2024-01-21%2015.13.24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZTnw-sycFdKTuIzT2bhCPEnfO-c40nQ4t0VFdGq7RE-7IQ5W9cG8MYiuG168kiKHm5h6SsoxrIwXO4VlbJA_xQhtBdohI7cWnrXkwxxMyn4S2Q4gnX0QnhBhPorUmGKrO64CuzErXKV1wuNcGfcVX6aclD4hGsPhZBoPYXg05onQSTnVQ-CbpmnDVCY/w640-h480/2024-01-21%2015.13.24.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Watching</b></p><p>Let's talk about Arnold Schwarzenegger. Now look there are only so many action movies that I can take, politically speaking I would not have voted for him, and I wouldn't care to be married to him, but otherwise I'm a fan. The <a href="https://www.unspooledpodcast.com/" target="_blank">Unspooled podcast</a> did an episode on Terminator 2, and as soon as I started listening I found myself with a craving. We've seen both Terminator 2 and True Lies within the past few years so what else was there to get into for my single girl weekend?</p><p>Friday night: the insanity that is <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096320/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Twins</a>. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qtlB7q96NMs" width="320" youtube-src-id="qtlB7q96NMs"></iframe></div><br /><p>Saturday night: as of 1994 men were officially able to do everything that women can in <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110216/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_5_nm_3_q_junior" target="_blank">Junior</a>.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aNfsJuv0bJU" width="320" youtube-src-id="aNfsJuv0bJU"></iframe></div><p></p><p>Any rate, both of these movies were delightful and I do believe that Kindergarten Cop is next on my list.</p><p>Speaking of Twins, I was hearing a lot of chatter about a Netflix documentary called <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/24034578/vegan-twin-study-stanford-you-are-what-you-eat-netflix" target="_blank">You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment</a>. The premise is that 22 sets of identical twins were given either a high quality omnivore diet or a plant based diet to follow and then had a bunch of health assessments done before and after. Between hearing about this show and the fact that Netflix had the movie Twins, it was enough to get me to sign up for them again.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oygkWmXyOaM" width="320" youtube-src-id="oygkWmXyOaM"></iframe></div><p>The entire run time of the show was 3 hours and 18 minutes so it was a quick watch for my hibernation weekend. </p><p>TL&DR: I have serious "beef" with this show. If you don't want spoilers, this is to place to skip ahead to the books section.<br /></p>Nice things to say: the premise of the show was really interesting. It focused on only four of the 22 sets of twins, so I assumed it was going to be a reality show type of deal. It was an eight week program, and for each of the twin sets, one person was assigned a plant based diet and the other a high quality omnivore diet. For the first four weeks everyone had pre-prepared meals so there was no guess work or effort required, and everyone worked with a fitness trainer. For the second four weeks everyone was on their own. The end results were that the plant based folks had better health improvement overall, but the omnivores gained more muscle.<br /><p>So what wasn't to love about this show? Um, quite a lot. The show set up such an interesting premise and then BARELY FOCUSED ON THE TWINS AT ALL. Did any of the plant based crowd have trouble following the diet? Was the omnivore food radically different from what the other folks were eating? How did everyone adjust to their new fitness routines? So much stuff that my enquiring mind wanted to know and the show barely addressed any of it.<br /></p><p>Most of the runtime focused on the environmental damage caused by meat farming, cruelty to animals, and a lawsuit filed by residents of North Carolina over a Big Corporate Pig Farm that was spraying farm waste over their neighborhood. I'm not saying that these aren't important issues, but it had nothing to do with the twins or whether eating plant based vs omnivore is better for personal health. My gut feeling is that this was the show that the producers wanted to make, but someone said "yeah no one's going to watch a show about Big Corporate spraying pig feces on poor people in North Carolina so ya gotta put another spin on it".<br /></p><p>The show also spent quite a bit of time talking about a big fancy restaurant in NYC that rebranded itself with a vegan menu and focused on a few plant based food companies - again there's nothing "wrong" with this but it didn't have anything to do with the twins and at times I felt like I was watching an ad for these companies.<br /></p><p>Back to the health study aspect. I missed the point of doing four weeks in controlled conditions and four weeks of "follow the plan as best as you can" conditions. At the end it was revealed that one of the sets of twins strayed from the the eating and fitness plans for the final four weeks so what was the point again? Also since one of the findings was that the omnivores put on more muscle, is it asking to much to tell us the calorie and macro differences in the two diets?<br /></p><p>Anywayz...big thumbs down. This was such wasted opportunity to have made a really good show and such a poor way to bring light to important issues. Just so you know where I'm coming from, my parents have followed a low fat vegan/gym rat lifestyle for many years and the quality of life and health that they have at 80 compared to their parents is remarkable. Just sayin' that I'm pretty sure that there is a lot of evidence in favor of plant based eating==>but you'd never know it from this show's junk science approach.<br /></p><p>If you're interested in these issues I'd recommend getting the "damage" stuff from anywhere else and watching the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@CheapLazyVegan" target="_blank">Cheap Lazy Vegan</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@SarahsVeganKitchen" target="_blank">Sarah's Vegan Kitchen</a> Youtube channels for the "how" of going plant based. </p><p><b>Reading</b></p><p>In this phase of my life reading is about quality and not quantity, so I am stunned to see the number of books that I've put away only halfway through January. Some of the audio books that I've listened to were that good that I listened to them on my hikes, so that accounts for the hours there, and a lot of the books that I've read are mysteries that are quick reads, but still...I swear I'm only getting about half an hour at most at bedtime.</p><p>Here are this weeks updates:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Overall I really liked <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pete-Alice-Maine-Caitlin-Shetterly/dp/0063242664?crid=3SO8GBE8M0NLS&keywords=Pete+and+Alice+in+Maine&qid=1697022856&sprefix=pete+and+alice+in+maine,aps,86&sr=8-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=sarsbooshe04-20&linkId=f687d67b89040eb30babf0f1fb3844a1&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank">Pete and Alice in Maine</a> and I do like an "open to interpretation" ending BUT...I think I would have liked the book better if I had skipped the last chapter. Still, I'm giving this a thumbs up and I'm going to be thinking about it for a while longer.</li><li>Overall <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Die-Zero-Getting-Your-Money/dp/0358099765" target="_blank">Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life</a> gets a huge thumbs up. I'm in a situation where I've realized that <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2023/08/operation-endgame-werk-update.html" target="_blank">I have enough money and can stop working</a> but I'm staying in the game for <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2023/09/weekly-round-up-sellout.html" target="_blank">another year and a half</a> (1) because it's a huge decision, (2) to shore up my post-work plans, and (3) because duh people in my situation have a hard time walking away from work so I'm really just stalling.</li><ul><li>One quibble I have is that early in the book the author told a story about the time that he was young and broke and slaved to save $1,000 and his boss made fun of him for it because apparently putting short term effort into building an emergency fund means that you don't have faith in your future earnings ability. Hi, just speaking as someone who was once young and broke, having extra cash in the bank was a life saver many times. The premise of the book isn't that you should risk everything to Live Now, so it was odd that he chose to include this story and came back to it so many times.</li><li>Other than that, I'm on board. Lots of food for though with this one.</li></ul><li>I started listening to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Four-Thousand-Weeks-Management-Mortals/dp/0374159122" target="_blank">Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals</a> by Oliver Burkeman on Saturday. Between time in the car for errands, a walk, and puttering around the kitchen I was surprised that I ended up listening to over two hours of the six hour book. Unfortunately after being a third of the way in...I can't really tell you what this book is about and I haven't really gleamed anything that's useful to my own life so....I would actually still be listening to it but my hold for a Hot Book on Libby came in so I've set it aside for the time being.<br /></li><li>What book did I set Four Thousand Weeks aside for? <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Friends-Lovers-Big-Terrible-Thing/dp/1250866448" target="_blank">Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing</a> is Matthew Perry's memoir. To understand why I chose this book, you need to know that the Hubs bears a passing resemblance to MP and my MIL was very taken with Friends for this reason. We heard about MP's death at <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2023/11/weekly-round-up-family-shenanigan.html" target="_blank">my niece's wedding this fall</a> and that's when I put my Libby hold in.<br /></li><li>For before-bed reading I started <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Corpse-Millhone-Mystery-Alphabet-Mysteries/dp/0312939019" target="_blank">C is for Corpse</a> by Sue Grafton and so far it's my favorite book in the alphabet series. Bravo! I'm already 75% of the way through.</li><li>I really don't need anything else to read but...<a href="https://runnersfly.com/" target="_blank">Jenny</a> got me! She read <a href="https://runnersfly.com/reading-and-eating-12/" target="_blank">the first three books of the Dover series by Joyce Porter</a>, which is one of my all time favorites. I'm not going to let her have all the fun! I've been reading 1-2 chapters of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dover-One-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B07XX255JK/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=oc1Vk&content-id=amzn1.sym.cf86ec3a-68a6-43e9-8115-04171136930a&pf_rd_p=cf86ec3a-68a6-43e9-8115-04171136930a&pf_rd_r=142-9710765-7590350&pd_rd_wg=rN62m&pd_rd_r=9010f37d-0f9b-4d27-94c6-92da7129feea&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk" target="_blank">Dover One</a> and then switching over to Sue Grafton for my bedtime reading. According to the blog, the last time that I read the series was in 2018, so I guess I am due for a reread.</li></ul><p><b><i> Peace out! Have you seen You Are What You Eat? Folks who've read the Alphabet series, which were your favorites?</i></b><br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-8065511465678971512024-01-17T13:34:00.000-05:002024-01-17T13:34:01.936-05:00Tales of the Sheprador<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXamaUT-5joAiSFrSlmjh98DvaUmxsgj1gsz5djNyXHEOUKDPmt4tK7pxPNKQGcjdV5P6AawQF7rLrM4FzZuVLfAfFaxk_ZyPoEiRyII9CivWVEauzjNyNxFLv55CBEk4gPjBkXxhyYwpsBzZ4wOfQYpOVmK4NkYUNmRkYM3hViR93Qopzdmm4Bg96jdg/s1632/SleepingDogs.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="1632" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXamaUT-5joAiSFrSlmjh98DvaUmxsgj1gsz5djNyXHEOUKDPmt4tK7pxPNKQGcjdV5P6AawQF7rLrM4FzZuVLfAfFaxk_ZyPoEiRyII9CivWVEauzjNyNxFLv55CBEk4gPjBkXxhyYwpsBzZ4wOfQYpOVmK4NkYUNmRkYM3hViR93Qopzdmm4Bg96jdg/w640-h412/SleepingDogs.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The biggest criticism that I have of blogs in general and mine in particular is that there is not nearly enough dog content. Today I am here to do something about that. </p><p>ICYMI Stepdog passed away in November after a mercifully brief battle with cancer. When I wrote about it I said that I would come back later and tell the story of everything that came before. This is the promised happy post about this wonderful dog's long and healthy life. </p><p>Her backstory. How she went from being my husband's ex-wife's dog to my stepdog. What she meant to each member of the family. A Day in the Life Pre-Pandemic Edition and a Day in the Life Pandemic and Beyond Edition. Her many nicknames. A bunch of random dog stories, lots of pictures, and some Sheprador Poetry. Her Dog Ambassadorship which led to many of our friends and family adopting dogs. <br /></p><a name='more'></a><b>Haven't You Written About Your Dog Before?</b><p></p><p>Why yes I have. It's funny how when you write a blog about food, fitness, TV, and books how much you end up writing about your dog. Her first appearance on the blog was back in <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2017/12/weekly-eats-monday-dec-25-sunday-dec-31.html" target="_blank">Christmas 2017</a>.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEciMiH7iGR8n-XEMJpVLiA4TlO4Az40kj80NVgI41ERP4FkdReRr5dN91rrrQibRTQKENT1JNjbCn_c-K8_9eVoYB-Q9PljlurdN9YPhREj6jZPE56HEFPwmYPxBq0sy91Gdrg1UevNV9OP93eL9QzhhG-OcyRdddhyphenhyphenG-jfB7qbqMCQDwEpB_Xf6g_js/s3264/2017-12-30%2015.17.05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEciMiH7iGR8n-XEMJpVLiA4TlO4Az40kj80NVgI41ERP4FkdReRr5dN91rrrQibRTQKENT1JNjbCn_c-K8_9eVoYB-Q9PljlurdN9YPhREj6jZPE56HEFPwmYPxBq0sy91Gdrg1UevNV9OP93eL9QzhhG-OcyRdddhyphenhyphenG-jfB7qbqMCQDwEpB_Xf6g_js/w480-h640/2017-12-30%2015.17.05.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>She got her own post for National Dogs Day in 2020: <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2020/08/7-things-about-sheprador.html" target="_blank">7 Things About a Sheprador</a>. <br /></p><p><b>What Kind of a Dog is That?</b></p><p>According to family legend, Stepdog's mom was a German Shepherd and her dad was a Black Lab. This kind of dog is called a <a href="https://animalso.com/breeds/german-shepherd-lab-mix-sheprador/" target="_blank">Sheprador</a>. We don't know if she came from a breeder or if it was a casual meetup, but the result was a Very Good Girl who was born on Easter in 2012. We were told that she went to a fancy dog training school which we believe because she was exceptionally well behaved. She was friendly but dignified. She was never too serious and never too silly. She always let you know
where her boundaries were which made her so great with kids. She was very affectionate but not overly cuddly so anytime that she would cuddle with us we took a picture, and it turns out that we have a lot of pictures like this:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4cyo5IltXhr_AUkT4EL_qdP9dy0qlII_lnGuDM_EhwfnUAkwLfhiCkv7hDQZzaRrI35ZY7XiCeIzJmWKe98gIjTZMfxnnPmUUIGqpVPdhTMEwz-z59R6qTAXxf8CaLpCjqaDzIgtDs0iCrhH-0TyCnW3jgKv-YOwDV8FZ1cMOXDHeZFVPXweEqs0kP4/s4032/IMG_5471.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4cyo5IltXhr_AUkT4EL_qdP9dy0qlII_lnGuDM_EhwfnUAkwLfhiCkv7hDQZzaRrI35ZY7XiCeIzJmWKe98gIjTZMfxnnPmUUIGqpVPdhTMEwz-z59R6qTAXxf8CaLpCjqaDzIgtDs0iCrhH-0TyCnW3jgKv-YOwDV8FZ1cMOXDHeZFVPXweEqs0kP4/w640-h480/IMG_5471.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>She never
jumped on people, never tried to eat food that was on the table, never destroyed anything, and never had an obnoxious behavior
in her life. The "worst" thing that she would ever do was to look
longingly at someone when they had food that was lower than standard
table level, such as on their laps at one of our family parties. She
ate some macaroni and cheese out of an unattended trash can <b><u>once</u></b> just to see what it was like. That's the full list of the Transgressions of Stepdog.</p><p>Personality
wise, there are alpha dogs who lead and there are back-of-the-pack dogs
who bring up the rear and protect. In the middle are the
peacemaker dogs who check in with everyone to see how things are
going and to make sure that everyone is on the same page. This was Stepdog. If anyone got out of line, such as the boys fighting or rabble rousing, she would remind them of the Golden Rule: Be Like the Pup.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQoxOhcRha4Gfk6zwh3QcShMZTcbGNlQj46i3Hk1vWnk9B3Af0VCYJ8DmNCBuoX8C1XEC_iiREDfrPtBizmU5TMEbnJDA3k1TACfR0P1nP1bJYf2uJ0Z9tF9dThgqCosbgnaxpuXz5f5sNEdiaDJTNCkdFCI2hKB1ijJKOSR_zLfChiR1PTZj7CgU1_k/s4949/IMG_8776.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3076" data-original-width="4949" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQoxOhcRha4Gfk6zwh3QcShMZTcbGNlQj46i3Hk1vWnk9B3Af0VCYJ8DmNCBuoX8C1XEC_iiREDfrPtBizmU5TMEbnJDA3k1TACfR0P1nP1bJYf2uJ0Z9tF9dThgqCosbgnaxpuXz5f5sNEdiaDJTNCkdFCI2hKB1ijJKOSR_zLfChiR1PTZj7CgU1_k/w640-h398/IMG_8776.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Stepdog's Backstory</b></p><p>Stepdog's first home was shared with a cat, and she absorbed a bit of cat attitude: she always went for the sunny spot and she could go from total relaxation to pouncing on a squirrel within a fraction of a second. <br /></p><p>Her O.G. owner ended up traveling a lot for work. In a way this was great for Stepdog, since she got to go to doggy daycare and doggy babysitters, so she became very social. But it was time consuming and expensive to line up the care and the O.G. owner felt that she wasn't doing right by the dog and wondered if she should find another home for her. She happened to say that out loud to a coworker, who responded, "My boys would love to get a dog".</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvwnUE4e3sNofSozk8fEZaMdNVCASZvR14e7KDndTQAGbEmAjvJgm1smgzDIqWvZvssQ1ExtNhA8a8HNecI1OFj2KHA6wFz4oMnvw6fZKSak1QaA08yeCU5IHqTninm-BvyHPZjn0VAgK9WU75Z3Xct8LMPxqx1dNLVX1FS6x2dYjY9TmskhsGDUgte0/s1600/IMG_5287%20-%20Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvwnUE4e3sNofSozk8fEZaMdNVCASZvR14e7KDndTQAGbEmAjvJgm1smgzDIqWvZvssQ1ExtNhA8a8HNecI1OFj2KHA6wFz4oMnvw6fZKSak1QaA08yeCU5IHqTninm-BvyHPZjn0VAgK9WU75Z3Xct8LMPxqx1dNLVX1FS6x2dYjY9TmskhsGDUgte0/w640-h426/IMG_5287%20-%20Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The coworker, better known on the blog as my stepsons' mom, took the boys to meet Stepdog. It was about two years after the divorce and the boys were seven and nine and Stepdog was two. It was love at first sight on all sides. The only problem was that the boys missed the dog when they went to their dad's house. The boys' mom suggested that maybe the dog could go to their dad's house with them.<br /></p><p><b>Dogs and Divorce</b> <br /></p><p>Their dad, better known on the blog as Hubs, had always wanted a dog also but he was at a place in his life where he was maxed out. He was classic Sandwich Generation: the boys were young and a handful, he spent a lot of time caring for his elderly parents, and in his spare time he had a job and a lady friend who lived on Birchwood Street. And besides, who wants to share a dog with their ex-wife. Hubs just didn't have room for anything else in his life.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDsYhi5LF3vls6KY3EpHOOWwZQa2La2l8gNCEKXoGrqKRDXXzS9rZRoov6BIufK21Qz-fMAVh8KPo5m0-NLA8KN6e97ci48ia1r3OXv9M2oE2qrgl_Bu1BEmMY-sgExwqbhaQsyBeLqMPtLvxLWGf5YrolYLgt0-KiO7ikWDLNCq407KM08xTu9hV_2E/s3264/IMG_8051.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDsYhi5LF3vls6KY3EpHOOWwZQa2La2l8gNCEKXoGrqKRDXXzS9rZRoov6BIufK21Qz-fMAVh8KPo5m0-NLA8KN6e97ci48ia1r3OXv9M2oE2qrgl_Bu1BEmMY-sgExwqbhaQsyBeLqMPtLvxLWGf5YrolYLgt0-KiO7ikWDLNCq407KM08xTu9hV_2E/w640-h480/IMG_8051.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Christmas 2014 changed all of that. The boys' mom was going out of town for the last week of the year and was trying to find a dogsitter. Hubs was going to take off work and stay home with the boys so he said sure, bring the dog. The rest is history. Hubs got to see the boys and the dog up close in a way that he hadn't before, and found that he liked having her around. One day they left the house to run errands and when they came back a few hours later Stepdog had taken one of my husband's shirts out of the laundry basket and was snuggled up with it. That's how Stepdog went from being "her" dog to "our" dog. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6D2T78K4wkeqr0ABlwZszSXmhu4mXfrZRDpitPbOJUJpeZYWbsozOsA7AcETutqIx6EBX_Afkz5TxFAGLz-cVIRSleJkq3VPPMh4LfXWUzVLmaMton0g_z-I76BG0nPIT6rBQg87sB2DhDGiTYptZOZHMhNqSnUzAOXIDX68_23zjwJ6QTGxPZdSm6UM/s3657/IMG_1420.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2104" data-original-width="3657" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6D2T78K4wkeqr0ABlwZszSXmhu4mXfrZRDpitPbOJUJpeZYWbsozOsA7AcETutqIx6EBX_Afkz5TxFAGLz-cVIRSleJkq3VPPMh4LfXWUzVLmaMton0g_z-I76BG0nPIT6rBQg87sB2DhDGiTYptZOZHMhNqSnUzAOXIDX68_23zjwJ6QTGxPZdSm6UM/w640-h368/IMG_1420.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><p>Here are a few of the million pictures that I have of Stepdog snuggled up
with Hubs's clothes. She would sometimes take naps with the boys'
clothes but never with mine due to lack of opportunity. I'm no fun and
I never leave clothes lying out and I keep my hamper in my closet. She
had a thing for my slippers though, and anytime that I left them
unattended she would carry them off and snuggle with them. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAK0KD6tzXrBTN2RSfvfD8HRTW3rd98T5JV-sakUHwQ1xGBrp_cJI5oyck2PZ-LS8X-aXgeH-TTRih6TbrvHp8C7-svu1KC4iCMCb8yI6JX_2jixEdzm_ilnaX1rcDU3VRXFMuPHBpKJ6K_wgiWHZFtbnhuVx_iF40Pi8RXr6buIx7jVSXh7aXiBxUIBU/s3264/IMG_7231.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAK0KD6tzXrBTN2RSfvfD8HRTW3rd98T5JV-sakUHwQ1xGBrp_cJI5oyck2PZ-LS8X-aXgeH-TTRih6TbrvHp8C7-svu1KC4iCMCb8yI6JX_2jixEdzm_ilnaX1rcDU3VRXFMuPHBpKJ6K_wgiWHZFtbnhuVx_iF40Pi8RXr6buIx7jVSXh7aXiBxUIBU/w640-h480/IMG_7231.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>In the beginning the co-dog relationship was very strict and followed the 50-50 custody arrangement. Stepdog was my husband's ex-wife's dog and only came to our house when the boys were there. Over time things shifted. On weekends the two boys and one dog didn't always end up in the same house and anytime that someone went out of town the dog went to the other house. I don't know how things happen in other co-parenting houses, but eventually the boys started staying at our house during the school week because it was easier for everyone. Where the boys went the dog went so that's how Stepdog came to spend most of her time with us.</p><p><b>Family Relations</b></p><p>As far as Stepdog was concerned, she was the boys' mother and they were her pups. Their mom wasn't going to tell her any different. For her the sun rose and set by those boys and they adored her like nobody's business. In the early days I think that they really liked that there was a third party who went with them between the two houses.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmttX65MMwllXxvjRQMBVF-WWG-KwjACTQa0UGZRidbyrBjVqQnG3P_D75Nyi0rcjYLFygUO0yngnAyJNNAry72NH-WKEOlhkuGZJRwF4rzTL20FY2Uw1sjXvkxKkwrEb2mL2WP_qQlprpgwaYYKzwPYpb-KnPzuSzCJJ9B9SpQoFYR8CjoVjlCT5HWz4/s3532/IMG_4808.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3532" height="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmttX65MMwllXxvjRQMBVF-WWG-KwjACTQa0UGZRidbyrBjVqQnG3P_D75Nyi0rcjYLFygUO0yngnAyJNNAry72NH-WKEOlhkuGZJRwF4rzTL20FY2Uw1sjXvkxKkwrEb2mL2WP_qQlprpgwaYYKzwPYpb-KnPzuSzCJJ9B9SpQoFYR8CjoVjlCT5HWz4/w640-h626/IMG_4808.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>When it came to my husband tho...in her eyes he was the Big Dog. It's not too strong to say that she imprinted on him and claimed him for her own. On his side, of course he was smitten with her. He adored her in her own right, and loved her for what she meant to the boys. On our family dog walks he would compare her excellent behavior to the rowdy boys and would joke "I've got the leash on the wrong one". He formulated the theory that having a dog is the same as having a kid except that a dog does everything that you say.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV264Yx0ZiPkIW51A_EwLbJcld4GINS4xap4zlthwWSJ4O8_qE0J-obW_Ijq4q-Nd79tEqR4obUX5Y3h7EEfqhFax6vWokVFEL90IryjykI49JHncmCfizwpQg_HXqWmToCQ1t9c7AFLcFLFLbaDcTFwJ8DB8hV_bSZDfjrXs_lCJsn34hrjYR1aojlfE/s3264/2017-12-24%2021.15.47.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV264Yx0ZiPkIW51A_EwLbJcld4GINS4xap4zlthwWSJ4O8_qE0J-obW_Ijq4q-Nd79tEqR4obUX5Y3h7EEfqhFax6vWokVFEL90IryjykI49JHncmCfizwpQg_HXqWmToCQ1t9c7AFLcFLFLbaDcTFwJ8DB8hV_bSZDfjrXs_lCJsn34hrjYR1aojlfE/w640-h480/2017-12-24%2021.15.47.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Stepdog and I first bonded over our shared hobby. I'm a big fan of taking walks and she was an even bigger fan of taking walks. Hubs was no slouch in the dog walking department, but I was a source of "bonus weekend walks". <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlGWc9WNEHXIFmZSZkyhTLzUxXgU-L8LzJ9FsLFHcZ6m6Xq720lcGoLoqTQOpzTrkDdEnTzUuVAh0Ubn94InPw_lTMnqP_5SlCoPtd65flqQDWH0nFZmXwzserNm3m_lP9PhHcGvGhVCRuSCR8HbbgRadal8pjYwU1XyxCXomtNoog5x_cieadkJS3Kw/s3264/2018-02-07%2012.51.31.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlGWc9WNEHXIFmZSZkyhTLzUxXgU-L8LzJ9FsLFHcZ6m6Xq720lcGoLoqTQOpzTrkDdEnTzUuVAh0Ubn94InPw_lTMnqP_5SlCoPtd65flqQDWH0nFZmXwzserNm3m_lP9PhHcGvGhVCRuSCR8HbbgRadal8pjYwU1XyxCXomtNoog5x_cieadkJS3Kw/w480-h640/2018-02-07%2012.51.31.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Our second bond as I went from someone who spent a lot of time at the house to someone who was living there is that we were "the girls" in a house full of boys. She was my girl and we were tight. The other thing that she liked about me is that I cooked and sometimes I had extra chicken or a piece of steak that I needed help with. This was a familiar sight in the kitchen.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEP5m2eLIW5xpiCjq_MaksVSWzItSEzhRAyE4aKCnHx2epcWbIsRDrFiAl0xnuWVwLItv5Z-C8z3u8aHd_kS2hKL2213DmNRf9K6kHPVVPo28wYftBqn8AE9K4evH9G41-Wb0JNKF11vwwYlIrOHE5kXC1gHcosi013zLup1HNeT7JAPwtcpKvP4X8xSk/s3803/2020-11-26%2017.47.27-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="3803" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEP5m2eLIW5xpiCjq_MaksVSWzItSEzhRAyE4aKCnHx2epcWbIsRDrFiAl0xnuWVwLItv5Z-C8z3u8aHd_kS2hKL2213DmNRf9K6kHPVVPo28wYftBqn8AE9K4evH9G41-Wb0JNKF11vwwYlIrOHE5kXC1gHcosi013zLup1HNeT7JAPwtcpKvP4X8xSk/w640-h444/2020-11-26%2017.47.27-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><b>A Day in the Life - Pre Pandemic</b></p><p>Back in the day, I was always the first to get up in our house. Stepdog would get up with me and come downstairs where she would take a minute to look out the front window and would then stand guard in the front hallway. After a bit she would start her first nap of the day on the couch.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqzybIZHABpEaaIYuDyqHaOD85j_yvZr-xQ3E1l-8FXYv99_S8lhq-IBXyrtQrItiCR5L3zBifbP9uXDXi054Nk5wWuic0o1B83so-KKRL455ukHWYF5Sg91B8CtUABgrEXxKRYd0HrGfoD3-wkmEhcXcY-GYdT3c2_zF1pe6CYwPkl23Fk-LFrX4wmQ/s3264/2017-01-29%2009.18.33.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqzybIZHABpEaaIYuDyqHaOD85j_yvZr-xQ3E1l-8FXYv99_S8lhq-IBXyrtQrItiCR5L3zBifbP9uXDXi054Nk5wWuic0o1B83so-KKRL455ukHWYF5Sg91B8CtUABgrEXxKRYd0HrGfoD3-wkmEhcXcY-GYdT3c2_zF1pe6CYwPkl23Fk-LFrX4wmQ/w640-h480/2017-01-29%2009.18.33.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Once Hubs and the boys got up she would hang out and have breakfast with them, being sure to stay on alert for rouge cheerios landing on the kitchen floor. Every once in a while she would want to go outside before it was time for the bus, but for the most part she held out for Bus Walk. If she felt that we were dragging our feet, she would shepherd us to the door - and by us, I mean the adults. She knew it was more effective to lead the adults than to try to get the kids to move faster. <br /></p><p>We would all go outside as a family to get the bus at the end of the street. The family walk to catch the bus endured until the boys stopped taking the bus at the end of the 2023 school year. Of course the boys had long since aged out of needing to be taken to their bus, but Stepdog was not having any "I'm too old for that" talk so the Bus Walks continued. If the boys were in a mood they would walk ahead to make it clear that they weren't with us, but for the most part they put up with the escort.</p><p>Then it was time for the adults to go to work. Hubs always left before I did, and each morning without fail as soon as he left Stepdog would climb into our bed. Her Bed Ethics were always a mystery to us - she was allowed full access to the bed except at night when we were sleeping, but she never got in the bed during the day unless Hubs was out of the house.</p><p>Here is the text that Hubs would get nearly every day after he left. And yes that's his side of the bed.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbp7YnfTGfgeFbOuzPyelAgajKQJTxUaxKKurZg3-Po1PwMxrLjtds4_-_MkhKxSzvWGbB6-W0mYc_6vuQJyc-XvnjaoHTJADjehtAHWgdac8_q_0LOK_ZnZGEsSog0wiMVtra8p7r-fotabtc2J5RELgsCv8WaE5JvCNZ8PRDFMpgDvy1Jpd-R4TfC-U/s4032/IMG_0625.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbp7YnfTGfgeFbOuzPyelAgajKQJTxUaxKKurZg3-Po1PwMxrLjtds4_-_MkhKxSzvWGbB6-W0mYc_6vuQJyc-XvnjaoHTJADjehtAHWgdac8_q_0LOK_ZnZGEsSog0wiMVtra8p7r-fotabtc2J5RELgsCv8WaE5JvCNZ8PRDFMpgDvy1Jpd-R4TfC-U/w640-h480/IMG_0625.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><p>Shortly after Hubs left I would get on the road myself, and Stepdog was home alone until the kids got home. The next big event of her day was when Hubs arrived, and then the countdown was on for me. This is the near daily text that Hubs would send in answer to my "Stepdog in bed" picture.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChlzc5fgibSn_wc3xq8lBEJeBIXisayYMBX_I014Qc3JmzbaQI_TN1UvgVoreXld75XBahgs_5Lshv6SGaNl97kf2X3FGC8keq2RckxWWS-Baa-MdytWgHfA8fw0B3QgI_X_88ZFKSWjlhaScmB6PGIUBpey5NHm8u2zJ4gmvspF9kH6RsOymCrqXMi8/s4032/IMG_4094.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChlzc5fgibSn_wc3xq8lBEJeBIXisayYMBX_I014Qc3JmzbaQI_TN1UvgVoreXld75XBahgs_5Lshv6SGaNl97kf2X3FGC8keq2RckxWWS-Baa-MdytWgHfA8fw0B3QgI_X_88ZFKSWjlhaScmB6PGIUBpey5NHm8u2zJ4gmvspF9kH6RsOymCrqXMi8/w640-h480/IMG_4094.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Once I got home Stepdog would allow us a reasonable amount of time for dinner before she would start dropping hints that it was time for the Magic Word. And sure enough, someone's lips would open and say "Walk?" We always stated it as a question to be polite, but the answer was a foregone conclusion.<br /></p><p>Originally evening walks were full family affairs. Usually each boy would claim an adult for exclusive attention and discuss matters of the day. Then the boys figured out that they could bring their books and get some extra reading time. Eventually the boys faded out of the walks, so it was just the adults and the dog. But occasionally they'd surprise us and want to come along.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUcpcaExi_P1pp2vYDFkLRobhnt_1L-5B5szWkIkjcvzYf-5BxXyQdzyP8eXS7yfowI1n67fhJodmZX-nQpuHVG7ZkyKgWQwIYpKUS4kcb2iX86FqpHAIN7bf7fr4l6H8VDSVmwFzw9SYo89HYsD2aiQUGrXdt9twq6PueoZwy3SLM0dwovac9O8z4KI/s4898/IMG_0512.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUcpcaExi_P1pp2vYDFkLRobhnt_1L-5B5szWkIkjcvzYf-5BxXyQdzyP8eXS7yfowI1n67fhJodmZX-nQpuHVG7ZkyKgWQwIYpKUS4kcb2iX86FqpHAIN7bf7fr4l6H8VDSVmwFzw9SYo89HYsD2aiQUGrXdt9twq6PueoZwy3SLM0dwovac9O8z4KI/w640-h426/IMG_0512.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>After walkies it was time for another magic word. "Treat?" was always asked and always affirmed. We'd go to the kitchen and Stepdog would do a trick to get her Greenie. The tricks were simple: speak, sit, or a paw shake. For the most part she would humor us, but some nights she would do all three responses before we could ask. Once the Greenie was in her jaws, she'd take it to the living room and find a quiet spot to be alone with her treat.</p><p>She'd spend the evening hanging out with whoever was home and downstairs. When the boys were young Hubs would take them upstairs at bedtime and I would stay downstairs for as long as I thought there were likely to be naked people running around upstairs. She would stay with me until I went up. I'd pause at the bottom of the stairs and give the warning, "Girls are coming up!", which Hubs likened to when his sisters were in college and every time that he went to their dorms to visit someone would yell "Man on the floor!". I'd wait for the all clear and then she and I would go to our room. She'd get in bed to start her pre-bed nap while I took a shower, and then I'd bundle up with her and read. Hubs would either already be there or would join us later.</p><p>Once her pre-bed nap was over she would get out of our bed and go to hers. Her bed was originally in the hall between the boys' rooms but after they started going to bed later than us her bed moved into our room. If we went to bed before her pre-bed nap ended, Hubs would say, "Bed" and she would jump down...well she jumped down but sometimes she would make it known that she hadn't finished her pre-bed nap yet but she would move to her bed to humor Hubs.<br /></p><p>On weekends there was no bus but there was bacon. Hubs usually makes waffles and bacon on Saturday mornings and once he took the bacon out of the refrigerator Stepdog was on high alert. If she didn't get bacon then there was usually a hamburger at night. Any day that I was not at work I would take her for a bonus walk during the day. And that was the pre-pandemic life of Stepdog.</p><p><b>A Day in the Life - March 13, 2020 and After<br /></b></p><p>Hands down the pandemic was the best thing that ever happened to Stepdog. The rest of the family was home with her! And I did say that any day that I was not at the office she got a bonus walk - now that was everyday!<br /></p><p>With the weekday commute out of our lives, we all started sleeping in a bit but I was still the first one up. At some point she stopped getting up with me and started sleeping in until Hubs got up. </p><p>When in person school started again in the fall, her Bus Walks came
back. It's worth noting that when school was virtual I would offer to
go out with her in the mornings after my runs but she wasn't
interested. No boys and no bus meant no Bus Walk. </p><p>After breakfast she would snuggle on the couch with Hubs until his work day started. Then she would go up with him to his office. Hubs and I learned quickly that we can do everything in life together except share an office, so he set up shop in "the attic" - an upstairs room that's over the garage. There are no HVAC vents and it's not well insulated so he got a heater and an AC unit and kept the door closed. Sometimes she would stay with him for the entire morning, but usually either he or she would take breaks to check in with me.<br /></p><p>Hubs always brought her bed into the office and sometimes she would use it, but for the most part his space was personal to her and she liked to curl up at his feet. Exhibit A with Hubs's feet propped up by her head:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8EJQ8e_n-UG38tEBidbIGSyrOfs6mYxZGc8upq1jGwJSOJjyPjLgwpEAqf0MP9srqh14E6hLFdy7kMaHWCwHChKcjxeWkeEjoBZMLUg2hNFuzZK8N6iodDTbUqWtk2piFJJ0z0Ed67117uW0ufCdlhruVF64eiWO7nCyJvsOF5xqBpfQoNtMB8sOViU/s2048/image000000%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8EJQ8e_n-UG38tEBidbIGSyrOfs6mYxZGc8upq1jGwJSOJjyPjLgwpEAqf0MP9srqh14E6hLFdy7kMaHWCwHChKcjxeWkeEjoBZMLUg2hNFuzZK8N6iodDTbUqWtk2piFJJ0z0Ed67117uW0ufCdlhruVF64eiWO7nCyJvsOF5xqBpfQoNtMB8sOViU/w640-h360/image000000%208.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>As it got closer to noon her focus would switch from Hubs to me. She was very diligent about making sure that I went down to lunch in a timely manner. As with dinner, she would allow us reasonable time to eat but she kept her ears alert for the Magic Word. The first order of business was the lunchtime selfie, which we usually took on the front porch unless it was too cold, and then I'd say the Magic Word and she and I would go out on the town while Hubs went back to work. At first there was no treat after the lunch walk, but then our vet prescribed a glucosamine chondroitin supplement so that became her post-lunch walk treat. We called it "candy". </p><p>After candy it was time for her afternoon nap, which she would usually take in my office. As evidence I present the famous "Sun Butt" picture.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90n1vQso2k0cvqsVOK5btb4sACcA7Wc41-x6fIRjsJZdw19wE9CzVhBlyUSYjAmGzLopm7shygRho53i7gqkKOlSGz38s1Hrop3LpzRyswaF-xMtdhSJUpG5oxCnJZeWjCwMD6i9djQ5Jv1z7shOemG_a5lNlnUO6cRca33sogsITmf00OzXAu9zJd6k/s3136/IMG_8874.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2727" data-original-width="3136" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90n1vQso2k0cvqsVOK5btb4sACcA7Wc41-x6fIRjsJZdw19wE9CzVhBlyUSYjAmGzLopm7shygRho53i7gqkKOlSGz38s1Hrop3LpzRyswaF-xMtdhSJUpG5oxCnJZeWjCwMD6i9djQ5Jv1z7shOemG_a5lNlnUO6cRca33sogsITmf00OzXAu9zJd6k/w640-h556/IMG_8874.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><p>Pre-pandemic "my" office was the house office and the white rug was a trick that Hubs used to try to keep her from getting too close to his chair. We called it "fly paper" and joked that we'd caught a really sweet fly. Her spot was visible from my work camera, and Stepdog got many compliments from coworkers on Zoom over the years.</p><p>There is no carpet and my desk is smaller so Stepdog hardly ever curled up at my feet. She did it once for bragging rights.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1eExnnEA5U-dytyEUUxbA16F_xGMRp1PY27jGEw4aEl7gAv9LPSU1pbU00hm1URjexpyjy8IMIQn_mGUbDRW-5vlkkosIySZVpU9emuKd1viQlEQJ6yvUcCY-8u9wA3El2RRF2zA7VAC0PEfH4hAtv4ya7OH2-rfgRk5zDF61Jx2r5MzMjjFccZABRA/s4032/IMG_1342.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1eExnnEA5U-dytyEUUxbA16F_xGMRp1PY27jGEw4aEl7gAv9LPSU1pbU00hm1URjexpyjy8IMIQn_mGUbDRW-5vlkkosIySZVpU9emuKd1viQlEQJ6yvUcCY-8u9wA3El2RRF2zA7VAC0PEfH4hAtv4ya7OH2-rfgRk5zDF61Jx2r5MzMjjFccZABRA/w480-h640/IMG_1342.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><p>She'd hang out with me until it was time for the boys to come home, and then she'd move downstairs to be in place and waiting for them. At some point in the afternoon she and I would go out to get the mail, and when the weather was nice we would take breaks to hang out in the backyard together.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrYt639M4gba_MECoIgCeaEMDrmOGg9g066fmdOBtklWkyGpvBdsSBu496n_ndhhvVZF1dtdSADMAKcpvMqPEGEkk2yffTw8xRCLBYMU6BDGs2py_hQhUYDpLS2FXByH-pGLfoIgQA-62unCGupmfM3xXpJB86fM6I6EJorEF_MQ3orCA1AUbdA4PI2o/s4032/IMG_4562.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrYt639M4gba_MECoIgCeaEMDrmOGg9g066fmdOBtklWkyGpvBdsSBu496n_ndhhvVZF1dtdSADMAKcpvMqPEGEkk2yffTw8xRCLBYMU6BDGs2py_hQhUYDpLS2FXByH-pGLfoIgQA-62unCGupmfM3xXpJB86fM6I6EJorEF_MQ3orCA1AUbdA4PI2o/w640-h480/IMG_4562.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Her dinner and nighttime routines were the same as pre-pandemic but in the last year of her life there was an addition. She had a touchy belly so we didn't give her a lot of treats, but on a whim Hubs got her a special kind of dog food that had a jerky-like consistency. Her glucosamine was "candy", her Greenies were "treats", and this new thing needed a name. We called it Treat-O. Treat-O-O'Clock was at night before we went upstairs, and she would always let us know. Everyone who was around would grab a couple of Treat-Os and gave them to her in their own style. Stepson #1 would have her earn them with tricks, Stepson #2 would just hand them over, and the adults alternated between tricks and "guess which hand has the Treat-O?"<br /></p><p>This is from a night when I was alone and the text that I sent to Hubs was "I'm not wearing a watch but I know what time it is."<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNak4oooAWQLQuyu_98rmmn8vt6dAf7Tf9ivLHSqsKOy6tVS6dKhA9fFtOWpWimYpw58arNmm6CZzpqmnvAZIDJFtPVSpL9HlJX2pJc2PTAb-ZoOvZuVs3qH_IjMKhCGu0iLJecnXZ8x41mfwBQjMxvNT6bsN13R57jX2eFpTPNyk8oqnLhKe8Tm163M/s4032/2023-09-22%2020.28.48.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNak4oooAWQLQuyu_98rmmn8vt6dAf7Tf9ivLHSqsKOy6tVS6dKhA9fFtOWpWimYpw58arNmm6CZzpqmnvAZIDJFtPVSpL9HlJX2pJc2PTAb-ZoOvZuVs3qH_IjMKhCGu0iLJecnXZ8x41mfwBQjMxvNT6bsN13R57jX2eFpTPNyk8oqnLhKe8Tm163M/w480-h640/2023-09-22%2020.28.48.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><b>The Apex Predator</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPkgTIBABqHVMo5ODiOpa2NOedMGepl2xTSUizLet5-6vNXpjfOZMGJwrotXB48y_22PigNuLsyEBHqat8gYazifTgppp7E7tQ6X-BsZf-jVYCQh4PCR6PAJWwpxim2-573C4_ftECQ-oNljGkQWFsChYg5MMK4C8LqSeIMLayHWyc0hcyMTvjU1rBzw/s2902/2016-12-15%2013.33.02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1833" data-original-width="2902" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPkgTIBABqHVMo5ODiOpa2NOedMGepl2xTSUizLet5-6vNXpjfOZMGJwrotXB48y_22PigNuLsyEBHqat8gYazifTgppp7E7tQ6X-BsZf-jVYCQh4PCR6PAJWwpxim2-573C4_ftECQ-oNljGkQWFsChYg5MMK4C8LqSeIMLayHWyc0hcyMTvjU1rBzw/w640-h404/2016-12-15%2013.33.02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>One of the many roles that Stepdog assumed was that of Chief Home Defense Specialist. Her motto was that the best defense was a good offense.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdAhJZTc0jHjMg3lEl7l47kvOW3Stj-Kl6FxmSFR0NiZLoCRmwz8bHxe8spznrDPyPwlXN591cRdXf02pvx-_FdAjRJf5YcaspQuGv6HsNsSXEGGTgRSR9PZ6HfIC72-acmyys2eGNpf7LAZ1pbZ3wroop0DaO6wGRfm0DTqDfqzb51Cpl0EPZqb6ZLM/s3264/2018-04-21%2007.53.35.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdAhJZTc0jHjMg3lEl7l47kvOW3Stj-Kl6FxmSFR0NiZLoCRmwz8bHxe8spznrDPyPwlXN591cRdXf02pvx-_FdAjRJf5YcaspQuGv6HsNsSXEGGTgRSR9PZ6HfIC72-acmyys2eGNpf7LAZ1pbZ3wroop0DaO6wGRfm0DTqDfqzb51Cpl0EPZqb6ZLM/w640-h480/2018-04-21%2007.53.35.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>She kept watch over the backyard and made sure that everyone toed the line. She got along well with our neighbor's indoor cat when we went to their house, but a Stranger Cat in our yard was Not OK.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhP3J9jtjz0X4njagrFsTAhw0m-yLBGlE-7kgY_cizkhfq9Nx0cDGeIQe88rQB9sgUBkD0h6hKXNzCTPPX4eIDlGQDX5fiFaUzQtjwxiCHpGoUaa_lQxZlbN62vH2jBeFCurHy6N6_nBmXqpqIGRdDVynAiQ9IGhq1f2DDBaoCA8ZV3kUr7ffGMEq61aI/s4898/IMG_8905.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhP3J9jtjz0X4njagrFsTAhw0m-yLBGlE-7kgY_cizkhfq9Nx0cDGeIQe88rQB9sgUBkD0h6hKXNzCTPPX4eIDlGQDX5fiFaUzQtjwxiCHpGoUaa_lQxZlbN62vH2jBeFCurHy6N6_nBmXqpqIGRdDVynAiQ9IGhq1f2DDBaoCA8ZV3kUr7ffGMEq61aI/w640-h426/IMG_8905.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p>When she was younger she let us know anytime that a squirrel came into the yard, but as she got older she seemed to mellow toward some but not all of them. We joked that she was running a protection racket and the ones who were paid up were OK. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAIJ-fKK1svwGdZCpktFwI4svFEOMWpcyk7R9ttTxEcs8gaTnjuNsVSK_FTk2-ud0UqTFSeFE0BMvKEjScwzH1_5-D-n17EoI0a8ZK4G_vFQ2hq7CKGvlqaYO68obZeMe8u_VWWNti_JzAcMlTq4D9tBaMm6_-04jay6sl90w_HYeuAoPMAcekYkUTnM/s4032/IMG_7636.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAIJ-fKK1svwGdZCpktFwI4svFEOMWpcyk7R9ttTxEcs8gaTnjuNsVSK_FTk2-ud0UqTFSeFE0BMvKEjScwzH1_5-D-n17EoI0a8ZK4G_vFQ2hq7CKGvlqaYO68obZeMe8u_VWWNti_JzAcMlTq4D9tBaMm6_-04jay6sl90w_HYeuAoPMAcekYkUTnM/w640-h480/IMG_7636.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Chipmunks were never OK, and she reduced their population by at least two that we are aware of. Her Ultimate Enemy was the rabbit, and anytime that we were on a walk and she saw one before we saw it, our lives would flash before our eyes as she raced in pursuit and took us with her.</p><p>We didn't need Amazon to tell us when our packages were delivered.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPCL2gjTKZmp9vKAbtJFZZPVU7ouwmO8VXcST0ot5oAPWNJIQSltYqPx02WXKRm4Ho3FKvaaTVXEac84mnVIGC-Lg_4RppAWc1ET_7qIDz9F6nSn_QKOYZvfCb8UADzX3rTd-EqwK7Dwv5pwtRW1BFvBvmGgatlu1_4VpR88lZeqdrMZrHc-G9ZOBktI/s904/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-26%20at%2011.13.36%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="514" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPCL2gjTKZmp9vKAbtJFZZPVU7ouwmO8VXcST0ot5oAPWNJIQSltYqPx02WXKRm4Ho3FKvaaTVXEac84mnVIGC-Lg_4RppAWc1ET_7qIDz9F6nSn_QKOYZvfCb8UADzX3rTd-EqwK7Dwv5pwtRW1BFvBvmGgatlu1_4VpR88lZeqdrMZrHc-G9ZOBktI/w364-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-26%20at%2011.13.36%20AM.png" width="364" /></a></div><p> </p><p><b>What's in a Name </b><br /></p><p>You will be glad to know that Stepdog's name was not
"Stepdog". For blogging purposes I call my stepsons Stepson #1 and
Stepson #2 so what other blog name would their dog have besides
Stepdog? Her non-blog name was absolutely lovely and I would tell you what it was except that
I think it would be like when Sex and the City told us Mr. Big's
name and it might or might not be the security answer to "what was
the name of your first pet" for two members of the household. </p><p>However she was a girl of many of nicknames:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Ms. Pup</li><li>The Pup</li><li>House Wolf</li><li>Ladybug</li><li>Baby</li><li>Click-Click (for the sound of her nails clicking on the floor as she walked)</li><li>Clickety-Boo (a play on tickety-boo)</li></ul><p><b>The Controversial Nicknames of Stepdog</b><br /></p><p>One of the boys' babysitters called Stepdog "Nugget". Exhibit A:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8eXrW8vpYYFiHAeGL9CjU1HjDT_40Q4B7jcuqS41swznFBRU9ptOtOXGCx3I1OE8PhdH6KDzTnJiRDtaz5OgU1PISrtMvF6DN9ZPWqmOQP-Lt0_7PwGoJDCLgjRgNRKHx5KClpq3Uy79TBnHgMcRxt9AHfwiru75v0rLQixyuZnvsDylKYrfHBI3kfs/s4032/IMG_9018.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8eXrW8vpYYFiHAeGL9CjU1HjDT_40Q4B7jcuqS41swznFBRU9ptOtOXGCx3I1OE8PhdH6KDzTnJiRDtaz5OgU1PISrtMvF6DN9ZPWqmOQP-Lt0_7PwGoJDCLgjRgNRKHx5KClpq3Uy79TBnHgMcRxt9AHfwiru75v0rLQixyuZnvsDylKYrfHBI3kfs/w480-h640/IMG_9018.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><p>The boys and I thought that Nugget was a delightful name but for some reason Hubs hated it. He suggested S'more as an alternative: because she had a tan back, a soft white belly, and a chocolate face and ears. Just like a well toasted marshmallow.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3DR1v74-6XeUFx1jaNdqehgDvW87Zdpar2qFWJMpveyQTE9r4A8HjBpOvadBjG5efpUTQ4LNT9Tz8s3qYuoMsiJ1Z3Zm6YmqBzaDQb0FwLJoDMgbO1nf2HZVtym0FctBTHY2-hDKA6shHqFBsfj-5cEgdD9Kw2dg9ATl1zdcLD9VTbnyYGRKgWrjlcQ/s2592/2020-02-24%2020.29.51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3DR1v74-6XeUFx1jaNdqehgDvW87Zdpar2qFWJMpveyQTE9r4A8HjBpOvadBjG5efpUTQ4LNT9Tz8s3qYuoMsiJ1Z3Zm6YmqBzaDQb0FwLJoDMgbO1nf2HZVtym0FctBTHY2-hDKA6shHqFBsfj-5cEgdD9Kw2dg9ATl1zdcLD9VTbnyYGRKgWrjlcQ/w480-h640/2020-02-24%2020.29.51.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The second Controversial Nickname of Stepdog was one that I came up with: Babycakes. Stepson #2 was not a fan of this name. To understand why, you need to understand our Birthday Cake Conventions. I make an ice cream cake for the boys' birthdays, and there are always enough leftover ingredients to make two smaller cakes, which we call...wait for it...baby cakes. The big cake is for their official birthday parties, and the baby cakes are treats for after the big cake is gone, so they're like the gift that keeps on giving.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3f3DeAyMtMFqcPpjifpkxVJ3ImWX39Gfc6L8L9Y8K0U2vH8p7-L_hJwXet0QqTjWm2MJzmEQCHXSohw9CYVDfdy64OyP9fKABFXDhv6RrjdL3ZqS2yTRvdFv3B_vKeyUJtG8p7LxrAcp1dbzKAlzsQYGjqEQQJLYES54Xn91vEkz_Hw0GzWqx_yfX2fQ/s4898/IMG_1220.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3f3DeAyMtMFqcPpjifpkxVJ3ImWX39Gfc6L8L9Y8K0U2vH8p7-L_hJwXet0QqTjWm2MJzmEQCHXSohw9CYVDfdy64OyP9fKABFXDhv6RrjdL3ZqS2yTRvdFv3B_vKeyUJtG8p7LxrAcp1dbzKAlzsQYGjqEQQJLYES54Xn91vEkz_Hw0GzWqx_yfX2fQ/w640-h426/IMG_1220.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Stepson #2 did not care for me calling the dog something that we eat, to which I say that he never minded us calling her Nugget or S'more. What can I say, she was my sweet, sweet Babycakes.<br /></p><p><b>Tell Me That You've Never Done This</b></p><p>The next name controversy that we have to talk about is that Hubs and I sometimes called each other by Stepdog's nicknames. I grew up with cats, and my name was a bit of a mouthful for the kids when they were young, and it shortens nicely to "Kat". I came into the boys' lives about the same time that Stepdog did, so the joke was that she was the dog and I was the cat. Hubs calls me Kat and sometimes Ms Kat, and every once in a while he got that mixed up with Pup and Ms Pup - we'd be whispering sweet nothings and he'd call me Ms Pup, or he'd be snuggled up with the dog and call her Ms Kat. I always took it as a compliment.</p><p>I never intended to call him by the dog's nicknames but it's something that started very innocently. We saw Double Indemnity for the first time as a couple early in Stepdog's residence with us. In the movie the guy calls the girl "Baby" and after that I started calling him "Baby" with a tough noir edge. I naturally called Stepdog "Baby" because she was cute but I said it with a completely different tone.<br /></p><p>There was a time when on Saturday mornings I would go out for a run and Hubs would go to a martial arts class. Usually but not always I would get back before him, and there was no way for me to see if his car was in the garage so I wouldn't know either way. I would open the front door and find the dog in the front hall waiting for me and I would say "hey Baby!" in the tone of voice that you use to say "hey Baby" to your dog only to be surprised by my husband sitting around the corner in the living room answering back "hey Baby!" in the tone of voice that you use to say "hey Baby" to your spouse.</p><p>I may or may not have started calling my husband Babycakes every once in a while but a blog is not the place to discuss that.</p><p><b>Sheprador Poetry</b></p><p>I'm not a poet and I know it. However I would like to tell you that:<br /></p><p><i>When you have a sweet, sweet Sheprador, you never want anything more.</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-XOoaSaSA8oeTo-Jmv4e_01A7_xZtkZpgqNACbeWZ2yH8W1KJ5tQkHchUGxtPGr6498uoS1PUxJX8Nnp4jqCGt1ASKAC8bHo3NBtJhGMeoI3IRtMpsNqqxT8Jy1XNEvGincGNUpsvnGcawzB_NUxRA1lFR2R6rfWNA8mxeIuFr_mwZAfIGEfArsBfv8/s4032/IMG_0338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-XOoaSaSA8oeTo-Jmv4e_01A7_xZtkZpgqNACbeWZ2yH8W1KJ5tQkHchUGxtPGr6498uoS1PUxJX8Nnp4jqCGt1ASKAC8bHo3NBtJhGMeoI3IRtMpsNqqxT8Jy1XNEvGincGNUpsvnGcawzB_NUxRA1lFR2R6rfWNA8mxeIuFr_mwZAfIGEfArsBfv8/w480-h640/IMG_0338.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>And:<p></p><p><i>When you have a sweet, sweet Sheprador, you never have to clean the kitchen floor.</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwUX2YLdYdiM3o1Km752NDFo-YhQWGtsVq1a0vXxXrpHLIO7-ksRUc1DCgawrXeFINqyTt-0xH_tsSH0WB4T1McKVmsBvp5mWkkSQZZAtRy6x1Snoge5on2HuwK8AN6hjEph5f4Wj1gnlTmp_AE60egh8xe_qL8D2Dk-8neWZDa3WVgC8o6hubKWaH4I/s4032/IMG_6107.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwUX2YLdYdiM3o1Km752NDFo-YhQWGtsVq1a0vXxXrpHLIO7-ksRUc1DCgawrXeFINqyTt-0xH_tsSH0WB4T1McKVmsBvp5mWkkSQZZAtRy6x1Snoge5on2HuwK8AN6hjEph5f4Wj1gnlTmp_AE60egh8xe_qL8D2Dk-8neWZDa3WVgC8o6hubKWaH4I/w640-h480/IMG_6107.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Dog Ambassadorship or "Mom can we get a dog?"<br /></b></p><p>Stepdog
was a firm believer that everyone needs a dog. She made the case
to everyone that she met that dogs are friendly, well behaved,
obedient, and have endless love to lavish upon you. When we got her
only one of my SILs and one of our neighbors had a dog. Over time my
two in-town SILs also got dogs, and our next door and backyard neighbors
got dogs, as did a family on the next street who we didn't really know
except that their kids always went nuts when Stepdog would pass their
house on walks. One of our nieces later confirmed that every time they
came to our house they would beg their parents for a dog and it finally
worked.<br /></p><p>When we were out on walks kids would go nuts over
Stepdog and would ask to pet her. She loved the attention, and I would
play a little game where I would predict how many seconds would elapse
before the kid would say "Mom, can we get a dog?".</p><p>We used to joke though that everyone who got a dog because of Stepdog really wanted Stepdog but they couldn't have Stepdog. Their dogs were perfectly nice, but they weren't Stepdog.</p><p>Now the joke is on us because we cannot have Stepdog either. Neither Hubs nor I had a dog before Stepdog, and because of Stepdog we will never not have a dog. Right now our status is "between dogs" and some day that is not today but is hopefully not too far from now Future Dog will come along and adopt us. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2YtIQUArdgdvVsSq4GZXxNl51YNH5jH51mqQ6m_raWL8q6JzSAlML9TkzweKdojo4JWrA1lushOv_aKpjiXiOBudpRTbJvGvPmpx495DoNH5fzZAYD9vKcztpl2LyEC99u1_AklsXWD-DiTNG1tk8EZ22UDeaQz4yRl6ZFV1-jzVRkVJcCXawktz604/s4898/IMG_3645.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2YtIQUArdgdvVsSq4GZXxNl51YNH5jH51mqQ6m_raWL8q6JzSAlML9TkzweKdojo4JWrA1lushOv_aKpjiXiOBudpRTbJvGvPmpx495DoNH5fzZAYD9vKcztpl2LyEC99u1_AklsXWD-DiTNG1tk8EZ22UDeaQz4yRl6ZFV1-jzVRkVJcCXawktz604/w640-h426/IMG_3645.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>The Ambassador served her post well.<br /></p><p></p><br /><br /><br />Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-33198379246377399352024-01-15T21:28:00.000-05:002024-01-15T21:28:47.256-05:00Weekly Round Up: Currypalooza<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyiJs5ZzFrS540xdawew9MImYqj9YLe_mEJVxeJqA5OLWFoob_2GmsFx3MJ1CIMsklAtoim0LKc63BrHVeDNL5cyxGMKgS2AW3CH0jxsnkEyxcGRNpCosQtILajnzkKNB_f_aoM5MH8N8mvPekHYnMiavGER-vt0ua-YGAZ1k_O2hYag0_PD5896PS9o/s4032/2024-01-12%2012.33.33.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyiJs5ZzFrS540xdawew9MImYqj9YLe_mEJVxeJqA5OLWFoob_2GmsFx3MJ1CIMsklAtoim0LKc63BrHVeDNL5cyxGMKgS2AW3CH0jxsnkEyxcGRNpCosQtILajnzkKNB_f_aoM5MH8N8mvPekHYnMiavGER-vt0ua-YGAZ1k_O2hYag0_PD5896PS9o/w640-h480/2024-01-12%2012.33.33.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>A weekly round up: eats, workouts, watches, and reads. In this week's edition I launched Currypalooza 2024, cooked up a bunch of seasonally appropriate eats, and as usual I've got movies and books to talk about.<br /></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p><b>Eats</b></p><p>All of my foodie folks have been talking about Japanese curry lately. It's a go-to for <a href="https://thecheaplazyvegan.com/" target="_blank">Cheap Lazy Vegan</a> and <a href="https://sarahsvegankitchen.com/recipes/vegan-japanese-curry/" target="_blank">Sarah's Vegan Kitchen</a>, and in Cool Blogger circles <a href="https://lifeofadoctorswife.wordpress.com/2024/01/08/dinners-this-week-113/" target="_blank">Suzanne</a> is a fan. It was only a matter of time before I tried it for myself. </p><p>I'm on a quest to try All the Currys, so I picked three things that looked interesting at the Asian market.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8JyYA6oHa2vl81kkqZDyLOgZNPxuxDXMaMCLIlpgKnVJqIHx_NJbjifwD4ehE934xk8uzoFMDsUD9F3tiggwqouMBYuH5Wil4-CsgYntObV885wW8MAj1c1nuNyBsu1hYOR0-HVLwlVNzubMP4Fl0dLaA6dy0FlJlWfl_OcUvd5sPsyLszA5AYcYOsfM/s4032/2024-01-06%2013.54.38.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8JyYA6oHa2vl81kkqZDyLOgZNPxuxDXMaMCLIlpgKnVJqIHx_NJbjifwD4ehE934xk8uzoFMDsUD9F3tiggwqouMBYuH5Wil4-CsgYntObV885wW8MAj1c1nuNyBsu1hYOR0-HVLwlVNzubMP4Fl0dLaA6dy0FlJlWfl_OcUvd5sPsyLszA5AYcYOsfM/w480-h640/2024-01-06%2013.54.38.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>First up, Japanese curry. I had a bit of trouble understanding the instructions on the box - the box had five cubes of curry roux and it said to use one per person and 2.5 cups of water...but was that 2.5 cups per cube or for the whole box? I just wasn't getting it. I winged it from some CLV and Sarah videos. I sauteed some onion while I chopped up two potatoes and two carrots, and then simmered everything until the potatoes were tender in as much water as it took to cover the potatoes (4 cups for me personally). I added a pack of frozen fried tofu later in the cooking process. Once the potatoes were tender I dropped in the curry cubes and ended up using the full pack of five.</p><p>I can't describe the taste except to say that all of the people that I mentioned above would not steer you wrong. I got the "hot" version which wasn't spicy at all and you know I like my spicy foods but it was so good that I'm not complaining. I guess my only complaint is that I didn't realize that the pack that I got was only for a single recipe;-) The cooking effort was "embarrassingly easy". This is something that I think would work for family dinners and I'll let you know when I try it. <a href="https://sarahsvegankitchen.com/recipes/vegan-japanese-curry/" target="_blank">Sarah posted her recipe</a> after I made the curry, so the next time I make it I'll try her add ons (Worcestershire sauce makes everything better. Coffee? I'm intrigued).<br /></p><p>Next up I made the Mabo tofu. I picked it up because it sounded familiar, looked interesting, and it was near the Japanese curry. At home with some help from Google I now know that Mabo is the Japanese version of Chinese Mapo sauce.</p><p>The instructions said to serve it with tofu and ground beef????? Look obviously I eat meat but the combination sounded weird so I skipped it. I sliced up a block of tofu and sprayed it with oil and seasoned salt and cooked it in the air fryer while I sauteed some onion and red pepper. Once the tofu was done I added it and the sauce.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjna8r03WAegC7glqR07lvws30kxPqQWDsqiIcgtkR31veHukKImNyg0A-N5PaFgRQ-khjyAo-y-qKozMJ-E-hj4K0Vbp1CqsQthRXLqIeFzfGwrCAIZSBYGh2SAMCAJrhHjYdrVIWJpKxKaVOrwNSGGO6Vt8xs_isBEQB9zPQ227DV1JEUDzQH9Nj8zV0/s4032/2024-01-14%2012.26.26.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjna8r03WAegC7glqR07lvws30kxPqQWDsqiIcgtkR31veHukKImNyg0A-N5PaFgRQ-khjyAo-y-qKozMJ-E-hj4K0Vbp1CqsQthRXLqIeFzfGwrCAIZSBYGh2SAMCAJrhHjYdrVIWJpKxKaVOrwNSGGO6Vt8xs_isBEQB9zPQ227DV1JEUDzQH9Nj8zV0/w640-h480/2024-01-14%2012.26.26.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The result was perfectly fine but also perfectly ordinary, so I think this Mabo sauce is a one time purchase. I kind of want to try Mapo to see what the difference is. Let's put a pin in Currypalooza for now. As soon as I finish the leftovers and I'll try the Massaman curry.<br /></p><p>For family dinners, we took advantage of the cold and made some seasonal meals.</p><p><a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2015/06/shepherds-pie.html" target="_blank">Shepherd's Pie</a> on Saturday:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HQ_WvMT7r8IT7jDqc12rncaf-Hej7t4YOOCvg3BHYGrW0UrIZyJULqwtH8ooK58r38pepkA-89tRT-0Olx1V4RV7KmsJFyGCYk8KaHznblJXnfS3eUu4RS7iQOl3QAVVmRpvHuyLyaqpU1dPOB_cWBDPff2aCo6zM1gmPKO_HrIAva-ur9ajqX7jt-s/s4032/2024-01-13%2018.25.26.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HQ_WvMT7r8IT7jDqc12rncaf-Hej7t4YOOCvg3BHYGrW0UrIZyJULqwtH8ooK58r38pepkA-89tRT-0Olx1V4RV7KmsJFyGCYk8KaHznblJXnfS3eUu4RS7iQOl3QAVVmRpvHuyLyaqpU1dPOB_cWBDPff2aCo6zM1gmPKO_HrIAva-ur9ajqX7jt-s/w640-h480/2024-01-13%2018.25.26.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><a href="https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/beef-stew-recipe/" target="_blank">Gimme Some Oven's Beef Stew</a> on Sunday. I can't remember if I've ever made this particular recipe but I don't think I have so I'm counting it toward my goal to make 10 new recipes for family dinner this year. I did NOT sear the beef first - in theory it sounds great but I think I heard somewhere that it doesn't really make a difference for a stew like this so I skipped it to save time. I DID follow the suggestion to sub a cup of red wine for some of the beef broth. This went over very well on a frigid day and between this and the Shepherd's Pie we have leftovers galore for the upcoming week.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2s11Bc7riq7sJUzaxUnn4OulvSlOvq0OFFPs4OyduE6GZN9t3atFVzoN6f5hi4qeRPbUe6rXXCRf_pBl7SFmRqhCDx9KvQPOmSYnKeMMeQg5wBVkVCgSlek1ezEwA1zw100D7aCgGHmQduEOf1FmWxsLpe96CqD-_-NLExzMPrTMSkJTKN4QakcTKYA0/s4032/2024-01-14%2018.58.35.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2s11Bc7riq7sJUzaxUnn4OulvSlOvq0OFFPs4OyduE6GZN9t3atFVzoN6f5hi4qeRPbUe6rXXCRf_pBl7SFmRqhCDx9KvQPOmSYnKeMMeQg5wBVkVCgSlek1ezEwA1zw100D7aCgGHmQduEOf1FmWxsLpe96CqD-_-NLExzMPrTMSkJTKN4QakcTKYA0/w640-h480/2024-01-14%2018.58.35.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Finally the best leftover save this week was my Sunday morning breakfast. I had just a little <a href="https://thecheaplazyvegan.com/fish-free-recipes/" target="_blank">chickpea salad</a> leftover and I finally remembered to use it to make a "tuna" melt. I toasted the English muffin, added the chickpea salad, and then topped it with a slice of cheddar and ran it through the air fryer for a minute to melt the cheese. It was a yum, so I just need to remember this for the next time I make the salad.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyosq4sygUqGR_TBlRKyGSRjOzCVmsp-kSZIzKx_-KxNWhVTLMa-osWIZnV3V6MrEfteXeQlOYNmJ18Z8NtsvBcKIS-KNeh2qPhhvQky1jejIPmx_SzoBsXFiau3C6duTRkZaEmVdtVirRkhZ8MffcDzRHbaaxNRMQ3tOTEp7A6bri-bcqw0Aqp6w4v5A/s4032/2024-01-14%2010.05.51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyosq4sygUqGR_TBlRKyGSRjOzCVmsp-kSZIzKx_-KxNWhVTLMa-osWIZnV3V6MrEfteXeQlOYNmJ18Z8NtsvBcKIS-KNeh2qPhhvQky1jejIPmx_SzoBsXFiau3C6duTRkZaEmVdtVirRkhZ8MffcDzRHbaaxNRMQ3tOTEp7A6bri-bcqw0Aqp6w4v5A/w640-h480/2024-01-14%2010.05.51.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Workouts</b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I'm still loving the 3-12-30 workout (3 MPH, 12% incline, 30 minutes)</li><li>For strength, I switched over to just some basic strength moves. I'm doing the <a href="https://stronglifts.com/5x5/" target="_blank">5x5 program</a>, which is just a few simple moves - 5 sets of 5 reps. Taking 90 seconds rest between sets felt like a little much, so I'm just taking 30 seconds of rest - if that's good enough for all of those Caroline Girvan workouts that I did then that's good enough for this. Anyways, I like it and I also like that it takes 15 minutes so my morning workout time is down to 45 minutes total.</li><li>I was able to take a long lunch on Friday and get in a hike for my winter hiking challenge. I timed it exactly right because the minute I got back to my car the wind and the rain that kicked off this weekend's storm started up. After that the temperature got below the level that I'm willing to take a two hour hike in, so the hiking project is on hold until it warms back up.<br /></li></ul><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoukkQjTug4QMfSWhd3f0Z67lEBniyxh6KyUUSYa7tG3bArY8ZcHB4AKuUuMvMlWkFzBh_n96prHqLGddpPGCyUnSlUEMgQGd4A_wSgxjyrngdWMVfPPJR1G9LgKk4xDjaOxizpKg6BEp0MZC_DsMxG25GkBlI1A5H9ucjEYv8c-16HPKTq3nyxjxGHt4/s4032/2024-01-12%2013.41.59.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoukkQjTug4QMfSWhd3f0Z67lEBniyxh6KyUUSYa7tG3bArY8ZcHB4AKuUuMvMlWkFzBh_n96prHqLGddpPGCyUnSlUEMgQGd4A_wSgxjyrngdWMVfPPJR1G9LgKk4xDjaOxizpKg6BEp0MZC_DsMxG25GkBlI1A5H9ucjEYv8c-16HPKTq3nyxjxGHt4/w640-h480/2024-01-12%2013.41.59.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p>I giggled at having to climb over ONE tree on the trail. It was a far cry from <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2023/07/lets-go-places-pelee-island.html" target="_blank">Tree Trunk Beach on Pelee Island last summer</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYih6B0G7ZPTjp3ADzgWbFdt8mWgdpDhV-7Rm0_7MFk_bx3RZ1TR7shUhWXUh72jrTDWkGUkZGRmJ_2D_ealN0J5NIO-LwOlhgCqRXYZTT2M43hmXhzGamTOduVxlfSXCqHJEpQEAjAYpia_xtcUlUo_mhBy3opr4ytGz_4JBokshzbfSXlIp92ZbHD_0/s4898/IMG_7210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYih6B0G7ZPTjp3ADzgWbFdt8mWgdpDhV-7Rm0_7MFk_bx3RZ1TR7shUhWXUh72jrTDWkGUkZGRmJ_2D_ealN0J5NIO-LwOlhgCqRXYZTT2M43hmXhzGamTOduVxlfSXCqHJEpQEAjAYpia_xtcUlUo_mhBy3opr4ytGz_4JBokshzbfSXlIp92ZbHD_0/w640-h426/IMG_7210.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>Watching</b></p><p>On the TV front, I finished season one of <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8765446/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_4_nm_4_q_uprig" target="_blank">Upright</a> and it was so good. I'll start season two soon.</p><p>In couples' movie news, Hubs and I went on a blast to the past on Friday. <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089155/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_4_nm_4_q_fletch" target="_blank">Fletch</a> is on my list of all time favorite movies that I saw as a kid that have not gotten old with the passing of time.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4sMMt2M3RiU" width="320" youtube-src-id="4sMMt2M3RiU"></iframe></div><p><br />Finally, let's start the transition from movies to books with a read-the-book-or-see-the-movie pairing. I finished reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/No-Highway-Nevil-Shute-ebook/dp/B07N36VDH9/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1704675951&sr=8-1" target="_blank">No Highway</a> which is one of my all time favorite books, so it was time to see <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043859/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_2_tt_6_nm_2_q_no%2520hihgway%2520in%2520the%2520sky" target="_blank">No Highway in the Sky</a> again. I hadn't seen it in a long time and from what I remembered it wasn't as good as the book but it had some good actors.</p><p>What I like better about the movie: the title. I dunno, there's something about the extra words that pack a punch. </p><p>What I like better about the book: everything else.</p><p>This video on the movie is a bit longer than I like to link to but if you've got 7 minutes and want a summary of the story plus the real life eerily similar aviation disaster that happened a few years later, this is a good watch: </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-ckZk5BGcAo" width="320" youtube-src-id="-ckZk5BGcAo"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p>The story is about an aviation engineer who's testing a theory that a new line of airplanes will experience metal fatigue after 1,440 hours of flight. The problems are that his theory is inconvenient if true and being an engineer, he's one kooky bird who is into a lot of strange stuff in the name of science. The book is narrated by his boss, who has to figure out where the truth lies between the extremes: are people's lives in danger or is the engineer a nut? Or are both these things true?<br /></p><p>Where the movie stumbles is that the engineer in the book is clearly Not Sexy - the whole point is how do you receive a message when the messenger is odd? But no one was making movies in 1950 that were centered around Not Sexy Kooks, so the substitution was James Stewart playing the Absentminded Professor. He may not be able to recognize his own house because all the houses on his street look alike but by golly he knows his metal fatigue. Stewart is good, but he's not the character from the book, and the gosh oh gee I don't know my left hand from my right but I know that plane is going to fall out of the sky act wears thin. The other actors in the movie are (1) terrific and (2) true to the book.<br /></p><p>The movie also leaves out most of the action surrounding the engineer's daughter. In the book he's a single dad who has good intentions but borderline neglects his kid and uses her in a psychic experiment that leads to finding the wreckage of one of the planes. For some reason the movie doesn't want to deal with the neglect, so the accident that the kid has while the father is away doesn't happen. The result is that everyone just happens to be hanging out at the engineer's house and poking their noses into his business because that's what people in old movies do - in the book they are there to look after the kid, but in the movie version nothing happens so there's just no reason for it. I guess the psychic experiment didn't make it past the censors, but it was a much better story than the Hollywood "hey we just happened to find the wreckage at a convenient time for the story because it was that easy".</p><p>In the book the answer to is-this-plane-dangerous-or-is-this-guy-crazy gets worked out over time. In the movie we get to 90 minutes in and it's time to wrap it up so everyone decides that it's Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Stewart does a filibuster in a meeting and all of a sudden everything happens at once and boom we have our answer. So book>>>>>movie but it was fun to see the movie as well.<br /></p><p><b>Reading</b></p><p>It's no secret that my dog's death last November kicked off a comfort reading spree. That's the reason for the Nevil Shute rereads and the Sue Grafton's Alphabet series. I've still got more to go with those, but this week marked a shift in that I was finally ready to read something else.</p><p>The non-comfort book is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pete-Alice-Maine-Caitlin-Shetterly/dp/0063242664?crid=3SO8GBE8M0NLS&keywords=Pete+and+Alice+in+Maine&qid=1697022856&sprefix=pete+and+alice+in+maine,aps,86&sr=8-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=sarsbooshe04-20&linkId=f687d67b89040eb30babf0f1fb3844a1&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank">Pete and Alice in Maine</a> by Caitlin Shetterly. It's March 2020 and a couple with marriage problems flees NYC to hunker down in their vacation home in Maine. I've heard about this book in a few places, but it was <a href="http://lisasyarns.blogspot.com/2024/01/what-we-read-in-december.html" target="_blank">Lisa's suggestion</a> that it plays well with You Could Make This Place Beautiful that got me to pick it up. If you think it's strange to read two books about troubled marriages in a row, all I can say is that it's a lot better than the time that I read <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2020/11/weekly-eats-book-flight.html" target="_blank">two domestic violence books back to back</a>.</p><p>Anyways, Pete and Alice is very good. There are some parallels to You Could Make this Place Beautiful so for that reason it's really fun to read them as a pair.<br /></p><p>I'm in a lull with podcasts which is fine since it means more audio books instead. I started <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Die-Zero-Getting-Your-Money/dp/0358099765" target="_blank">Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life</a> by Bill Perkins which is a hot It book with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIRE_movement" target="_blank">FIRE</a> crowd. It's a good read for my situation where in theory I could stop working but <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2023/09/weekly-round-up-sellout.html" target="_blank">I'm hanging on to a job that I don't really like just 'cuz</a>. Lots of food for thought in this one.</p><p><b><i>Peace out! Stay warm everyone!</i></b><br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-712390281674659712024-01-08T19:52:00.000-05:002024-01-08T19:52:39.019-05:00Weekly Round Up: Hello Winter<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zoJYAeAtg80SjbYAAatYbjNt6L2GCN3BG5HUk1nTFbWqFz-ZI5EjkGvpc3cag8BbgU0IIaI9R7qN7Yv_mrnm-MAv85r9HaNKku5yMq6iWGUk1r5wGNnas5q12yHjfu87Yb-ghos3S8KeJXrd_K0EGgkkm9PkCVY_MVIJ1cuuTrCdrfo_DheL6csE61E/s4032/2024-01-02%2017.22.15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zoJYAeAtg80SjbYAAatYbjNt6L2GCN3BG5HUk1nTFbWqFz-ZI5EjkGvpc3cag8BbgU0IIaI9R7qN7Yv_mrnm-MAv85r9HaNKku5yMq6iWGUk1r5wGNnas5q12yHjfu87Yb-ghos3S8KeJXrd_K0EGgkkm9PkCVY_MVIJ1cuuTrCdrfo_DheL6csE61E/w640-h480/2024-01-02%2017.22.15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>A weekly round up: eats, workouts, watches, and reads. In this week's edition the weather outside got frightful so we made chili, I've been hiking up a storm, and I've got lots of TV and book things to talk about, including an old book that is very much in today's headlines.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><p>When I got back from my New Year's Day hike, I wanted something warm for dinner. <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2016/08/chili-mac.html" target="_blank">Chili mac</a> is very easy but the kids aren't into it - oh that's right the kids just had their wisdom teeth out so for a few days they weren't eating the same foods that we were eating. I took advantage of the situation and Hubs and I found ourselves happily eating chili mac on repeat.</p><p>For lunches I'm back on the <a href="https://thecheaplazyvegan.com/fish-free-recipes/" target="_blank">chickpea salad</a> train with avocado and pickled onions.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35Z9onQ74hTfMTOuKjMXiNDMBrF4wrj-DBRZ8hnc24oPqoQIeoDUyJZOiBv1e-m-O-fSSQ10IOZ7LKgLGy9zrO_FVNo8qYrXg0vBR6znNKf9HZurbEQTfhcFvvBQcC-aOXyBj3qcSsLn3B6FuDJ7UhoJIISf7V2xmlmeMtf6m0r9zqbLmvRJZ5d43LpY/s4032/2024-01-03%2011.59.04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35Z9onQ74hTfMTOuKjMXiNDMBrF4wrj-DBRZ8hnc24oPqoQIeoDUyJZOiBv1e-m-O-fSSQ10IOZ7LKgLGy9zrO_FVNo8qYrXg0vBR6znNKf9HZurbEQTfhcFvvBQcC-aOXyBj3qcSsLn3B6FuDJ7UhoJIISf7V2xmlmeMtf6m0r9zqbLmvRJZ5d43LpY/w640-h480/2024-01-03%2011.59.04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>Workouts</b></p><p>Stop me if you've heard this one before...I'm really digging cardio and not feeling strength.</p><p>But seriously, the 3-12-30 workout (3 MPH, 12% incline, 30 minutes) plus the hiking is feeling good. I'm still into pushups and my baby attempts at hanging on the pull up bar, but the rest of strength work, not so much. Asking for a friend, if I decided to just do basic squats, lunges, etc instead of Caroline Girvan workouts how long would I keep it up before I got bored and stopped doing it? Let's find out!</p><p>For the hiking challenge, I was able to sneak away and take a very long lunch on Friday and got back to the trails on Sunday as well. I don't have the words to tell you why this is such a good time, but it is.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcywD_8hu9y9PT22Ox0nBcHEfHIRS1SIi0m3NbG9Q3SrqspH-KZAkg8TjZlLzPovdJkGx7NMpbY2wSY1OmA_5bAmoxm3k21DEKb4eyjLmSO0oIotQCOCJnZhd1QCKc66CVpYVkYYEoxfl5wb8CMpJ8w5ZVqJA66LmM44r1QWlgO2DjkQLut2FENkA85rQ/s4032/2024-01-05%2012.29.08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcywD_8hu9y9PT22Ox0nBcHEfHIRS1SIi0m3NbG9Q3SrqspH-KZAkg8TjZlLzPovdJkGx7NMpbY2wSY1OmA_5bAmoxm3k21DEKb4eyjLmSO0oIotQCOCJnZhd1QCKc66CVpYVkYYEoxfl5wb8CMpJ8w5ZVqJA66LmM44r1QWlgO2DjkQLut2FENkA85rQ/w480-h640/2024-01-05%2012.29.08.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Watching</b></p><p>Now that I'm regularly doing 30 minute treadmill workouts again, I needed a treadmill TV show. A treadmill TV show is a rare class of TV shows that are so good that they make you forget that you're on the treadmill.</p><p><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8765446/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_4_nm_4_q_uprig" target="_blank">Upright</a> is an Australian odd couple show. A 40-something year old man is in the process of driving an upright piano across the country when he causes an accident that totals his car. The other driver is a 16 year old girl who says that she too is driving across the country to see her mother. Two people, one car, and a piano set off on a long journey while their backstories unfold and adventures await.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RPczvcENxGg" width="320" youtube-src-id="RPczvcENxGg"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p><p>This weekend the Hubs and I wanted something silly so we turned to <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080487/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_caddys" target="_blank">Caddyshack</a>. We laughed like idiots.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x9Nl39uWEYk" width="320" youtube-src-id="x9Nl39uWEYk"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p><p>In Cute Youtube viewing, the Hubs and I are addicted to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@mrandrewcotter/videos" target="_blank">Olive and Mable videos</a>. Remember how we started taking selfies with our dog back when the pandemic started? Olive and Mable is that on a whole new level. Their owner is a sports commentator who was laid off since there were no sports in early COVID times. He turned his professional talents toward his dogs and the rest is history.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vPhpJuraz14" width="320" youtube-src-id="vPhpJuraz14"></iframe></div><br /> <br /><p></p><p><b>Reading</b></p><p>The hits keep coming!</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I chowed down the second book in the Linda Castillo Amish murder mystery series, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312540035?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tpbk_1&storeType=ebooks" target="_blank">Pray for Silence</a>. I don't have much to say besides she's got my interest and I'll get to the rest of the series in due course. I've got to make time for the Alphabet series as well;-)<br /></li><li>Everyone who is anyone is reading You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith. At first I said, "cool, Countess Crowley wrote a book". And then I realized that the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maggie_Smith" target="_blank">Maggie Smith</a> I was thinking of is not this <a href="https://maggiesmithpoet.com/" target="_blank">Maggie Smith</a>. I put in a hold for Place and saw that she had another book that was very short so I started with that.</li><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Moving-Notes-Creativity-Change/dp/1982132078/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3VXWI3JQSIDI2&keywords=maggie+smith&qid=1704335240&s=books&sprefix=maggie+s%2Cstripbooks%2C98&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change</a> is a very short audio listen that Smith adapted from the daily tweets that she did when she was going through her divorce. It's basically a pep talk, and who doesn't need that? I wouldn't class it as required reading, but it's a great intro to her way with words and a pleasant use of two hours.<br /></li><li>And yay my Libby hold for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Could-Make-This-Place-Beautiful/dp/B0B4YTSTXN/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=616186927804&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9015367&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17538878925160512425&hvtargid=kwd-1747117709274&hydadcr=27920_14512613&keywords=you+could+make+this+place+beautiful&qid=1704675804&sr=8-1" target="_blank">You Could Make This Place Beautiful</a> came in just as I was finishing Keep Moving. The hype about this one is well deserved, and without telling anyone else what to do, I'd recommend making tracks to get your hands on it. The reason is to hear Smith's craft with words. It's simply dazzling and her words are so good that it almost doesn't matter what the book is about. But fine, it's about her divorce and rebuilding her life. I'm about halfway through and torn between wanting to gobble it down and wanting to make it last. The struggle is real.</li></ul><li>But wait there's more! I just started another Nevil Shute reread. This is a book you might have heard of since it was made into a movie back in the day. The book is called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/No-Highway-Nevil-Shute-ebook/dp/B07N36VDH9/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1704675951&sr=8-1" target="_blank">No Highway</a>, and the movie was called more descriptively, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043859/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_6_nm_2_q_no%2520highway%2520in%2520the%2520sky" target="_blank">No Highway in the Sky</a>. We're in the very underrated genre of the Engineering Thriller. It's post WWII England, and a new supervisor has just started at a aviation testing lab. He gets up to speed on what everyone is working on, and learns that one of his engineers is running an underfunded study to test a theory that...wait for it...a new popular aircraft line has a problem with metal fatigue that will cause the airplane's tail to fall off after 1,440 hours of flight. On the one hand if the engineer is right people's lives are in danger so hello why is the only action item an underfunded study that will take a year to complete? But on the other hand the theory is highly mathematical and the engineer is kooky AF. Then one of the airplanes crashes under mysterious circumstances and the race is on to find out why it happened, how to handle the politics of keeping the manufacturer and an unhelpful investigating committee in line, and just how kooky is that engineer. Not to mention TFW you pick up a book that was written in 1948 and see it <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/alaska-air-flight-ntsb-rcna132714" target="_blank">play out in today's headlines</a>.<br /></li></ul><p><b>In Other News</b></p><p>It's puzzle season!<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSoWK4ohW716mFx-vy_K2y5BkHjwhfG3lgOPvB3YyRyrHf6yvXfg9UqhWNbbUykmILjwNd_sX_Ze_sqjqoSCS3KJqupM8h-GjbuYmnqSrWLN0qt-jRM2NKL5oTBg4hu0Qyoz04GjGwxkVv8tBuRD9906tQb7K7FRUz2428g1bTNaqv4nIL7WFAMfjVoI/s4032/2023-12-31%2015.47.33.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSoWK4ohW716mFx-vy_K2y5BkHjwhfG3lgOPvB3YyRyrHf6yvXfg9UqhWNbbUykmILjwNd_sX_Ze_sqjqoSCS3KJqupM8h-GjbuYmnqSrWLN0qt-jRM2NKL5oTBg4hu0Qyoz04GjGwxkVv8tBuRD9906tQb7K7FRUz2428g1bTNaqv4nIL7WFAMfjVoI/w640-h480/2023-12-31%2015.47.33.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b><i> Stay warm everyone!</i></b><br /><p></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-18966487390512608262024-01-01T20:19:00.000-05:002024-01-01T20:19:57.380-05:00Weekly Round Up: Goal Digger<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8Ay0HAxh0FNSl1pG7S4CL-cwFY6O1VF1oI2El1vh1i-boLX9Vd9s5CNlpxOov9zn7n8gvMmoaCACSkrg5bFtPMkF7JBQpR5JBsKdlnTzpRArTEdhURqqe_o7V68BwLx6tlNKq2StTuw-9r84iU2uVkLCCwDcj6MkX4JFdPrhY_Wz2FImzYfZvGSoBjM/s4032/2023-12-29%2017.32.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8Ay0HAxh0FNSl1pG7S4CL-cwFY6O1VF1oI2El1vh1i-boLX9Vd9s5CNlpxOov9zn7n8gvMmoaCACSkrg5bFtPMkF7JBQpR5JBsKdlnTzpRArTEdhURqqe_o7V68BwLx6tlNKq2StTuw-9r84iU2uVkLCCwDcj6MkX4JFdPrhY_Wz2FImzYfZvGSoBjM/w640-h480/2023-12-29%2017.32.22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>A weekly round up: eats, workouts, watches, and reads. In this week's edition we had a very random dinner, I found something to keep me busy on the fitness front, I've got a new book to talk about, and no one is saying that I'm a goal digger but...I've got a few things to share on that front.<p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><b>Eats</b></p><p>Our meals are ever zanier and less organized than usual thanks to our exciting winter break plans. And when I say exciting, I mean that this week the boys got their wisdom teeth out.</p><p>The boys' temporary new diet consists of: <a href="https://www.verybestbaking.com/carnation/recipes/crustless-broccoli-and-cheddar-mini-quiches/" target="_blank">mini quiches</a>, yogurt, a variety of soups, and lots of ice cream. I made a cheese and egg only version of the quiches, which is: 4 eggs, 2 cups of milk, a bit more than 2 tablespoons of flour, and enough cheese to fill 12 muffin cups. I made the first batch of quiche on Friday morning while the boys were at the oral surgeon, and the second batch that night.</p><p>On the first night the adults wanted something random for dinner and Hubs suggested French toast and some of the quiches. I seconded his motion.</p><p><b>Workouts</b></p><p>At the beginning of the week I was all off kilter from Christmas and felt very tired. I decided to roll with it and (gulp!) GET SOME EXTRA SLEEP AND SKIP A FEW DAYS OF WORKOUTS. When I was ready to get back into action again, I knocked back a few random Caroline Girvan workouts and put in some more 3-12-30 treadmill sessions (that's 3 MPH/12% incline/30 minutes).</p><p>In the meantime, I heard about a six month hiking challenge near home and decided to sign up since I want to learn more about local hiking trails, and what better way to do that than a planned hiking challenge. It's about 100 miles total and 20-some hikes ranging from 3 to 7 miles. If I do one hike a week I'll finish in early June, with the caveat that there will be weeks when I can't hike due to weather and travel. I'm banking as many hikes as I can now and as we get closer to spring and there's more light I can add in some weekday hikes to catch up if I need to. I did the first hike today and it was muddier than I was banking on but still there was something exhilarating about it. I've never been that in to distance walking, but now that I've started I'm kind of digging it. I'll keep you posted.<br /></p><p><b>Watching</b></p><p>We felt that we had room for one more Christmas movie, so we saw <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097958/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_7_q_chri" target="_blank">Christmas Vacation</a>. This is a movie that I came to later in life and I believe this is only my second time seeing it. It's a lil' tedious in spots but they really nail Dad Christmas which makes it all worth while.</p><p>That set off a hankering to see the original <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097958/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_7_q_chri" target="_blank">Vacation</a>. This is on the list of movies that I was too young to see back in the day but I saw anyway because my parents saw them. Other titles that come to mind from the list are: Fletch, Risky Business, Purple Rain, and Desperately Seeking Susan. Anyway, Vacation has always had a special place in my heart since we took a lot of cross country trips to see grandparents when I was a young 'un. I'm not sure if I'd ever be down to drive that far as an adult, and we've certainly never taken the boys anything further away than 12 hours, but I sure have the memories.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IGnrHNVIJkg" width="320" youtube-src-id="IGnrHNVIJkg"></iframe></div><br /><p><b>Reading</b></p><p>You would think that I wouldn't have anything left to say about books after <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2023/12/2023-year-in-books.html" target="_blank">the big year end summary</a> but that's where you would be wrong.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I've almost finished <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Longest-Race-Inside-Deception-Running/dp/B0B4ZHGH8T/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2F1RM54FBLLYV&keywords=kara+goucher&qid=1703640332&s=books&sprefix=kara+gou%2Cstripbooks%2C123&sr=1-2" target="_blank">The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike's Elite Running Team</a> by Kara Goucher. I didn't know anything about her going in besides that she is very anti-doping and well, yep she definitely has a reason. She broke record after record and had an amazing running career, but under an absolute *$%##** of a coach. The biggest thing that I'm wondering is how great her career would have been without all of the abuse and being left to feel like a failure for coming in third for so many legendary races. Comparing her story to Des Linden's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Choosing-Run-Memoir-Linden/dp/0593186648" target="_blank">Choosing to Run</a> is mind boggling. Any time that Des had so much as a sniffle she got to go off to an army of medical experts while Kara was told to buck up and run with stress fractures.</li><li>Out of nowhere I found a new mystery series. I was intrigued when <a href="https://www.jessruns.com/2023/12/books-i-read-november-2023.html" target="_blank">Jess</a> wrote about reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sworn-Silence-Kate-Burkholder-Novel/dp/0312597169" target="_blank">Sworn to Silence</a> by Linda Castillo in one day, so I checked it out on Libby. It's a murder mystery series set in Amish country. Well whomp whomp it wasn't available in Kindle format so I started reading it on my phone. It started out with a very graphic murder scene that had me skimming very quickly (let me refer you again to Modern Mrs. Darcy's very excellent <a href="https://modernmrsdarcy.com/you-dont-want-to-go-there/" target="_blank">You Don't Want to Go There</a>), so at first I thought this was going to be a DNF but something made me keep paging through the first few chapters on my phone. I decided then and there that I had to have it, but not badly enough to buy it. Normally I'd just put in a request at the library and pick it up in a few days, but in this case I was motivated to not only go to the library but march up to the shelves and get it for myself. While I was there I decided that it was a waste of my time to just get the first book so I got the second book in the series as well. Anyhoo, I've had to skim a few more passages that cross my You Don't Want to Go There line but this book is so good that I STAYED AWAKE UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE reading it so if that's not an endorsement I don't know what is.</li></ul><p>I'm not sure what my reading looks like from here. I want to reread a bunch of stuff, I want to keep working on the Alphabet series (but how frequently - every other book? one a month?), I think there are about 16 books in this new series, and of course there are going to be a lot of new books coming along. All I can tell you is whatever book that I start next will be the book that I start next.</p><p><b>2024 Goalz</b></p><p>It's been a long time since I've had a formal goals list, specifically <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2018/01/weekly-eats-monday-jan-1-sunday-jan-7.html" target="_blank">not since 2018</a>. I did have goals for 2019-2021 but they were all running related, so kind of much of a muchness, and 2022-23 was pretty much an "every day ends in y" stint. Now I've got enough spunk back to tackle some stuff. Here is my rambling, somewhat random list:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Physical and mental health:</li><ul><li>There's no getting around it, I do want to lose weight. My goal is to lose 1# a month in 2024. If you're asking why I picked such a low number, it's because I want to hit the goal, and also live my life while doing it. At the age of 48 and with everything else that I've got going on, weight loss is just not going to be the main focus of my life like it was in my younger/single days and that's a good thing. Also my ultimate loss goal is 15-20 pounds so knocking out 12 pounds is the bulk of it. I don't think I'm going to blog very much about this since there's nothing really more about it that I can say, but TBD.<br /></li><li>Find joy in spite of not liking my job and being uncertain about a laundry list of "not for the blog" stuff. When I did the Week in the Life series, I found that writing about my mundane days actually made me feel better about them, so I'm going to continue this off line. I'm experimenting with a short form journal. This could also involve more therapy down the line.</li><li>Keep doing pushups! I've been solidly doing 30+ pushups 3/x week for the last three months.</li><li>Add in pull up stuff. My January goal is ONLY to hang on the bar for 3x10 seconds TWICE a week. I've done things like this in the past but too much so I ended up burning out. If you're sensing a theme with my goals, I'm very much aiming for a minimum. At the end of January I will reassess what to do from there.</li></ul><li>Travel</li><ul><li>Continue to go places! I'm balancing how many places I want to go with how much I want to be away from the fam (lots of places but not a lot of time away from fam so that's the conflict and when we get another dog I'll probably want to be at home more as well), but at a minimum I plan to not be at home when they're away at Boy Scouts and to possibly take some mini-digital-nomad trips.</li><li>Related goal that's a BIG DEAL==>MEET SOME OF THE COOL BLOGGERS IRL. In the past I've always had strict separation between my "blog" life and my "IRL" life, but it's come to my attention that Cool Bloggers do meet IRL and it sounds like they're having a blast plus there is the sweetener that at lot of you live close to places where I want to travel. I'll be reaching out to folks as I get a better idea of my 2024 travel schedule.</li></ul><li>Food</li><ul><li>Cook a total of 10 new recipes for the fam in 2024. Why such a low number? It's due to the small number of "new" recipes that fit the clashing taste buds and the time crunch that we have around dinner time. If I hit this goal I will be thrilled.</li><li>Cook at total of 20 new recipes for ME in 2024. Sheesh, I've been craving Indian food for YEARS and I just never get around to making it.</li></ul><li>Totally Random<br /></li><ul><li>Send out proper Holiday cards with a collage of family photos. Every year for the past many years the Hubs and I have been thinking about this and every year for the past many years we have not done it. It's not for a lack of taking fascinating family photos, I'll tell you that much. The action steps are: continue to take a bunch of pictures, assemble the collage on Oct 1, and then get them sent out and back to us by Thanksgiving and ready to drop in the mail.</li><li>Take a picture of a Bald Eagle. They are becoming more common where I live so it's just a matter of researching where I'm likely to see them and hanging out with the good camera.</li></ul></ul><p><b><i>That's all I've got! What do you want to do in 2024?</i></b> <br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-76168735142220277642023-12-30T15:11:00.001-05:002023-12-30T15:21:55.556-05:002023: The Year in Books<p>Hey 2023, you were a great reading year!</p><p>As I've said many times, reading is the last priority in my life right now. I don't have reading goals but I love to read and I love to blab about it on the internets, so here we are. Here is an all-in-one list of everything that I read in 2023 and some stats for funsies. The way that I have (dis)organized this post is to blab and drop stats in the first part, and the second part is a cut n'paste from the <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/p/2023-book-list.html" target="_blank">book page</a> with the notes that I jotted down as I was reading them.</p><p>TL&DR for the first part of this post - all that the numbers show is that this was a great year for books. But it makes me happy to run it all through Excel.<br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><b>2023 Compared to 2022</b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>2022: 24 books completed and 5 DNFs. <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2023/03/weekly-round-up-one-about-books.html" target="_blank">My 2022 booklist is at the end of this post</a>. It's hard for me to rate these books in the same way that I've rated the 2023 reads since I'm a year further out.</li><li>2023: 48 books completed and 10 DNFs. The reasons that I read twice as many books in 2023 are:</li><ul><li>Overall it was just a great year and so many good books came my way.</li><li>Waaay more audiobooks. I listened to 15 audiobooks in 2023 compared to one (1) in 2022. Part of it is that I find myself listening to fewer podcasts, part of it is increased time in the car due to travel, and part of it is (duh) I just found a lot of great audiobooks that I wanted to listen to. I've got quite a backlog that I'll be diving into in 2024.<br /></li><li>Waaay more rereading. Eight rereads in 2023 vs two in 2022.<br /></li></ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6enPi9ZSTx2AaeaFu11RcGGYyhWESeIK421L3eCP0iVcVlhxM2eaDR5Jh2zwHN4ztHG9OfEEUR5jleLLZnDdmrcuHE0_NQIZrDTQKkapwl-DassCeasCyQvlCMI18HyUFF5Clma8ct21QWAXjo83whKTSExB9q_WXv78V7ZwocByhuh9lHZCJn32i_sg/s620/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-30%20at%202.01.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="620" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6enPi9ZSTx2AaeaFu11RcGGYyhWESeIK421L3eCP0iVcVlhxM2eaDR5Jh2zwHN4ztHG9OfEEUR5jleLLZnDdmrcuHE0_NQIZrDTQKkapwl-DassCeasCyQvlCMI18HyUFF5Clma8ct21QWAXjo83whKTSExB9q_WXv78V7ZwocByhuh9lHZCJn32i_sg/w400-h127/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-30%20at%202.01.51%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p><b>How I Rate Books</b><br /></p><p>I rate books based purely on emotion. I have never finished a book and said, "yep this here is a 4.25 star read". My scale and the numbers for 2023 are:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcVkXO_pj-Ev1m53dUozx8nutB1QohuQpHvqrS8pvrAcOzYEJepmONfXeKoY5t8CJAvueiVR9Bs4h16aF6qHrS-vPY8kPCwuJEFy0RU1uU0KfI4u18FhbDS4v5L3wgTNt46sGbq_1STaYAtiC1q4RuAkCpZEskBDrW5KQHRnruW9BH0l6aN7__MwvWC4/s616/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-30%20at%201.44.06%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="616" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcVkXO_pj-Ev1m53dUozx8nutB1QohuQpHvqrS8pvrAcOzYEJepmONfXeKoY5t8CJAvueiVR9Bs4h16aF6qHrS-vPY8kPCwuJEFy0RU1uU0KfI4u18FhbDS4v5L3wgTNt46sGbq_1STaYAtiC1q4RuAkCpZEskBDrW5KQHRnruW9BH0l6aN7__MwvWC4/w400-h206/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-30%20at%201.44.06%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />Just a reminder that DNF is not necessarily bad. I only read a few pages of some of these books and decided that I wasn't in the mood, and I read decent chunks of others and they just weren't gelling with me. Going forward I think I will probably not bother to document the "early fail" DNFs since it really isn't fair to the authors.<br /><p></p><p>I've never quantified my reading like this before, but I feel that to have nearly 25% of my reading hit me on the "OMG three-cat-heart-eyes" level is extraordinary and I'm very happy with the numbers.</p><p><b>Where I Find Books</b> <br /></p><p>I identified six main ways that I find books.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Blogs (#1 by a landslide)</li><li>It's a Hot "It" book that everyone else on the planet is reading. Honestly most of these probably started as blog recommendations and/or I heard about them on the Sarah's Bookshelves Podcast but I just don't remember in the moment.<br /></li><li>Books by favorite go-to authors (example: Paula McClain)<br /></li><li>Rereads</li><li>Dunno/random: I either can't remember or the way that I found the book is too random for explanation.</li><li>Travel. I was surprised to see that travel brought me three books this year. Two were about Frank Lloyd Wright and the other was the legendary The Handmaid's Tale which I finally picked up and read simply because I <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2023/07/lets-go-places-pelee-island.html" target="_blank">spent a few days on Margaret Atwood's home turf</a>.<br /> </li></ul><p>Let's look at it strictly by the numbers. Links to the names are in the detailed book list that makes up the second section of this post. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3wMEU3O74xvmmmR5K6BnM5tRKGgAMJtoMPEEA6TCHDeVEhSm3Qxqx6GwKFjzV__XdmXAjaYjgBSvgtXzg08maPcx8pCB8BZkl-5QDbAB7VhApRWXA320uZhBIcA6Qk2yqtSkYA9alsBoskq0Xcl-Jo2Rn6MKDS9kNyxPXjm2G7m2ntbYeSltacw2oUc/s896/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-30%20at%202.10.42%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="812" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3wMEU3O74xvmmmR5K6BnM5tRKGgAMJtoMPEEA6TCHDeVEhSm3Qxqx6GwKFjzV__XdmXAjaYjgBSvgtXzg08maPcx8pCB8BZkl-5QDbAB7VhApRWXA320uZhBIcA6Qk2yqtSkYA9alsBoskq0Xcl-Jo2Rn6MKDS9kNyxPXjm2G7m2ntbYeSltacw2oUc/w580-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-30%20at%202.10.42%20PM.png" width="580" /></a></div><p></p><p>As far as "famous" blogs go:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The Stripe is my most consistent hit recommendation source: 2 OMG's, 1 love, 1 meh, and 1 DNF.</li><li>MMD (Modern Mrs. Darcy) is my iffy-est recommendation source. 1 good/3 meh.</li><li>Sarah's Bookshelves is my most polarizing "love 'em or hate 'em" source. I read 7 books in total (including the co-recommendation from Engie): 3 OMG's, 1 meh, and 3 DNF.<br /></li></ul><p><b>Enough Blabbing, Let's See the Full Snapshot of the Reads</b></p><p>Okay! I've shortened a few titles with ... to hopefully get the font size readable<b> <br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwkK0J3FhVje-6fdQLewOcxgTYngpDiCfC9preAZEg6syfk_s9tnbCFUEhWiJoM6wo1E5tq0NsnjxajGFo6QPxuUmsNXdsEhj1fMlCkCberJxf0psZcugmZWmDpHQW4e60ENhgflAMkGjVTOA-ZmZmUPaIaB3ftmymZ2pWd3Yk_hnVLH1Bbu4jb7mPr4/s1914/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-30%20at%202.35.49%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1914" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwkK0J3FhVje-6fdQLewOcxgTYngpDiCfC9preAZEg6syfk_s9tnbCFUEhWiJoM6wo1E5tq0NsnjxajGFo6QPxuUmsNXdsEhj1fMlCkCberJxf0psZcugmZWmDpHQW4e60ENhgflAMkGjVTOA-ZmZmUPaIaB3ftmymZ2pWd3Yk_hnVLH1Bbu4jb7mPr4/w640-h400/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-30%20at%202.35.49%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQCqma1Xofqf8ivSwcF8__YRo_Kj_RjEOkzf4ViI_ZNqYIZ77UTHDr7z5hjv1LNF3_939Xce1hXO54g05vgmNAbfOVyyWU3CiWIFU_q2pzKjizYxpip39J40bLHkl_t8EJMDYqSVLdOv6ZAg2qwHvSMW8LNYOMV2GPzi9Z1laHL6VTpV6JjN52iNK5Oo/s1912/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-30%20at%202.36.16%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1912" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQCqma1Xofqf8ivSwcF8__YRo_Kj_RjEOkzf4ViI_ZNqYIZ77UTHDr7z5hjv1LNF3_939Xce1hXO54g05vgmNAbfOVyyWU3CiWIFU_q2pzKjizYxpip39J40bLHkl_t8EJMDYqSVLdOv6ZAg2qwHvSMW8LNYOMV2GPzi9Z1laHL6VTpV6JjN52iNK5Oo/w640-h384/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-30%20at%202.36.16%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn25_00RjqQ886HXme9qdYVVOS9h3ByZqdgOWyhtThW3m06rZOqdNRSqiEcKBmnHpRm1WwOTzokp4jEKJVnzxsDe_S9upHfc2y00xedIP7e8-WOPsHR0JZuJ69caemF6FEuu9pQt0yaKGMjXeRq3noaLfvFQ3i7rVQ_AvXfPATq1wH7h_gHXp8Q1oTpPE/s1904/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-30%20at%202.36.27%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="1904" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn25_00RjqQ886HXme9qdYVVOS9h3ByZqdgOWyhtThW3m06rZOqdNRSqiEcKBmnHpRm1WwOTzokp4jEKJVnzxsDe_S9upHfc2y00xedIP7e8-WOPsHR0JZuJ69caemF6FEuu9pQt0yaKGMjXeRq3noaLfvFQ3i7rVQ_AvXfPATq1wH7h_gHXp8Q1oTpPE/w640-h92/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-30%20at%202.36.27%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Phew that's a lot! Let's switch over to the promised "part two" of the post which is the notes that I took in real time as I was reading these books.</p><p><b>The Official 2023 Book List</b></p><p><i>Disclaimer: I am still reading (listening to) the last book on this list, The Longest Race, but I'm far enough along that I feel like I have my final rating for it. I started another book on December 29th that I'm going to classify as a 2024 book. Gotta draw the line somewhere.</i><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wrong-Place-Time-Novel/dp/0063252341" target="_blank">Wrong Place Wrong Time</a>
by Gillian McAllister. I loved the journey and took my time with this
one. Once I got to the destination, I kind of lost interest. But yes,
good book and I'd recommend it. </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: everyone on the planet read it before me.<br /></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Start-Fire-Lisa-Lutz/dp/0544705181" target="_blank">How to Start a Fire</a>
by Lisa Lutz. DNF only because I started it too soon after reading
another book by the same author. I will most likely come back to it
later on.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: big fan of the author, I've got her bookmarked for when I need a surefire hit.<br /></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-Frank-Novel-Nancy-Horan/dp/0345495004" target="_blank">Loving Frank</a>
by Nancy Horan. Loooooved it, but you should know that I'm currently
obsessed with touring Frank Lloyd Wright houses, so I may be biased a
little bit. </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: a tour guide at a FLW house recommended it.<br /></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Family-Has-Killed-Someone-ebook/dp/B09Y94K74X/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone</a> by Benjamin Stevenson. Meh.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://www.sarahsbookshelves.com/" target="_blank">Sarah's Bookshelves</a>.<br /></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Social-Climber-Novel-Amanda-Pellegrino/dp/077838702X/ref=pd_bxgy_sccl_1/142-9710765-7590350?pd_rd_w=EPmXC&content-id=amzn1.sym.6953b182-f957-43e6-9fe3-866e180e1e05&pf_rd_p=6953b182-f957-43e6-9fe3-866e180e1e05&pf_rd_r=7G4WXXPCJZCXA0Y4REP0&pd_rd_wg=mJ38e&pd_rd_r=92b8f9da-8664-4965-9d2f-e5de10a8cc3d&pd_rd_i=077838702X&psc=1" target="_blank">The Social Climber</a> by Amanda Pellegrino 😻😻😻</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://thestripe.com/everything-i-read-in-february-2023/" target="_blank">The Stripe</a>. <br /></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-One-Look-Lindsay-Cameron-ebook/dp/B08BKSYSXK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1JM8J10GKTN93&keywords=just+one+look+lindsay+cameron&qid=1679321605&sprefix=%2Caps%2C364&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Just One Look</a> by Lindsay Cameron. The wrong email gets in the wrong hands and oh my...I loved this "temp job gone wrong" thriller. 😻😻😻</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://thestripe.com/everything-i-read-in-february-2023/" target="_blank">The Stripe</a>. <br /></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Crying-Mart-Memoir-Michelle-Zauner/dp/0525657746" target="_blank">Crying in H Mart</a>
by Michelle Zauner (audio). A beautiful book about hard things. Steer
clear if you're not down for a "my mom died of cancer story", pick it
up if you're looking for beautiful writing and food talk. </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: everyone on the planet read it before me. <br /></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/One-Hundred-Years-Lenni-Margot-ebook/dp/B08F7SS35N/ref=sr_1_1?crid=P1FT2KJBUEXP&keywords=100+years+of+lenni+and+margot&qid=1679533504&sprefix=100+year%2Caps%2C2477&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The 100 Years of Lenni and Margot</a>
by Marianne Cronin. Lenni is 17, Margot is 83, their combined age is
100, and they're both terminally ill. I LOVED THIS BOOK, but heads up
that I spent the last 10% of it sobbing and had a good cathartic cry
afterwards.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://travelspot06.blogspot.com/2022/12/best-of-2022-books.html" target="_blank">Kyria's 2022 booklist</a>. <br /></li></ul><p><b></b></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/These-Silent-Woods-Cunningham-Grant-ebook/dp/B08R2JNYLX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=EG76TZR0VPFV&keywords=these+silent+woods&qid=1680791659&sprefix=these+sile%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1" target="_blank">These Silent Woods</a>
by Kim Cunningham Grant. When you're a decent guy with some issues who
just wants to live off the grid in the woods with your young daughter
but all of a sudden you have a house guest. Parts of the book felt slow
and I did a bit of skimming but overall this was a good one.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://travelspot06.blogspot.com/2022/12/best-of-2022-books.html" target="_blank">Kyria's 2022 booklist</a>. <br /></li></ul><p><b></b></p><p><a href="https://www.mamahborthwick.com/" target="_blank">A Brave and Lovely Woman</a>
by Mark Borthwick. The nonfiction version of Loving Frank.
Technically I can't claim that I *read* it - it was too
dry & too dense for my taste so I skimmed it and looked at the
pictures. It's a tall order to write a biography when not much is known
about the subject.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: somewhere on the internets. I think it was plugged on a FLW Facebook post or something like that.<br /></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Im-Glad-My-Mom-Died/dp/1982185821" target="_blank">I'm Glad My Mom Died</a>
by Jeannette McCurdy (audio). This is basically Crying in H Mart with
an AWFUL mom, a Hollywood backdrop, and an eating disorder instead of
Korean food. With that said, IMO this is an excellent read. I'm glad
Jeannette wrote this book!<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: everyone on the planet read it before me.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jackie-Maria-Novel-Kennedy-Callas-ebook/dp/B081NHH3GW/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1G8W7OF3313WK&keywords=maria+and+jackie&qid=1681654715&sprefix=maria+and+jackie%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Jackie and Maria: A Novel of Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas</a>
by Gill Paul. When you're the biggest opera star in the world and you
meet the perfect guy...but then he gets a notion that Jackie K should be
Jackie O and it's all over.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://modernmrsdarcy.com/great-ebook-deals/" target="_blank">Modern Mrs. Darcy Great E-book Deals</a>. </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bad-City-Peril-Power-Angels-ebook/dp/B09CNFDYQ8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QHKIX5FGOBMZ&keywords=bad+city&qid=1681654825&sprefix=bad+city%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels</a>
by Paul Pringle (audio). A true story that starts with the hotel
manager of an upscale LA hotel learning that a guest has OD'd. She's an
attractive young woman, the room is full of drug paraphernalia, and
there's a creepy old guy hanging around who doesn't want him to call an
ambulance. Pringle is such a good writer that he could publish his
grocery list and I'd be hanging on to every word. If you haven't read
this I don't even know what you're doing with your life. 😻😻😻</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://www.sarahsbookshelves.com/" target="_blank">Sarah's Bookshelves podcast</a>, but I forgot about it until <a href="https://ngradstudent.blogspot.com/2023/01/bad-city-peril-and-power-in-city-of.html" target="_blank">Engie reviewed it</a>.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Choosing-Run-Memoir-Linden/dp/0593186648" target="_blank">Choosing to Run</a>
by Des Linden (audio). If you're into running at all this is your
book. It turns out that the weather was the least of the drama at
Boston 2018. </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: Duh, every runner has heard of it.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hello-Molly-Memoir-Shannon/dp/0063056232" target="_blank">Hello Molly</a>
by Molly Shannon (audio). I don't watch SNL and I can't say that I've
seen anything
else that she's been in but it doesn't matter. I came into this cold
and not knowing what to expect and I think that's the right background.
This was a wow from start to finish.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://girlinaboyhouse.com/2023/04/snow-selfies-sensitivities-and-segues/" target="_blank">Nicole</a> (HI NICOLE!)</li></ul><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Switch-Novel-Beth-OLeary-ebook/dp/B081LW6477/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1588779303&sr=1-4&linkCode=ll1&tag=themodemrsdar-20&linkId=79b6ecb88675550c441d43056b3ff836&language=en_US" target="_blank">The Switch</a>
by Beth O'Leary. A grandmother and granddaughter swap houses for two
months - granny gets to live the Big City life while granddaughter gets
to chill in the country. This is lighter than my usual fare and at
times it came close to being a DNF. What saved it for me was that the
characters were believable and relatable, but I did skim quite a bit of
the community planning details. <br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://modernmrsdarcy.com/great-ebook-deals/" target="_blank">Modern Mrs. Darcy Great E-book Deals</a>. </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Spell-Winter-Novel-Helen-Dunmore/dp/0802138764/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=174259665011&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9015255&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17823937454315066657&hvtargid=kwd-1236576995&hydadcr=22536_9636732&keywords=a+spell+of+winter&qid=1682886504&sr=8-1" target="_blank">A Spell of Winter</a>
by Helen Dunmore. When it's pre-WWI England but your parents aren't
around and you're stuck in a Victorian Gothic world and only your
brother understands you. Or as my blogging friends described it "a
weird little book about incest". But also not about incest. This was a
beautiful, moody book and I can't wait to read more by this author.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: co-recommendation from <a href="https://runnersfly.com/reading-and-eating-3/" target="_blank">Jenny</a> and <a href="https://ngradstudent.blogspot.com/2023/01/a-spell-of-winter-by-helen-dunmore.html" target="_blank">Engie</a>.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Like-Family-Paula-McLain-audiobook/dp/B07BNT7CYM/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2RERHKZ0JSZ1Y&keywords=paula+mcclain&qid=1682887851&sprefix=paula+mcc%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-4" target="_blank">Like Family</a>
by Paula McClain (audio). A memoir about growing up in the foster
system. The standout is the writing. Hearing her words gives me the
same feeling that I got from looking at the hand
carved woodwork in a Frank Lloyd Wright house...it's serious
craftsmanship that puts me
in awe. Note to self: read more of her books ASAP.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: I loved <a href="https://www.amazon.com/When-Stars-Go-Dark-Novel-ebook/dp/B08F4FT48X/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1682887949&sr=1-1" target="_blank">When the Stars Go Dark</a> by the same author and needed to use up an Audible credit and somehow this popped up on my radar.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/You-Just-Need-Lose-Weight/dp/B0BFJYKJX4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ROP9PUPENBIO&keywords=maybe+you+should+lose+weight+aubrey+gordon&qid=1684004873&sprefix=maybe+you+should+lose+weight+aubrey+gordon%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-1" target="_blank">"You Just Need to Lose Weight": and 19 Other Myths About Fat People</a>
by Aubrey Gordon (audio). I'm a fan of the author but I couldn't even
and DNF'd one hour in. Yes I agree that fat shaming is a very real and
awful thing, yes I agree that the stats on weight loss are dismal, and
yes I agree that weight loss isn't always possible/desirable and that
all of these things need to be discussed more. My issue is that I feel
like she's saying that these things are true 100% of the time and that
too much of the content was recaps of research and statistics which
frankly was not compelling listening. If you're interested in this book
I'd recommend the "reader's digest" version in the <a href="https://maintenancephase.buzzsprout.com/1411126/11968083-glorifying-obesity-and-other-myths-about-fat-people" target="_blank">companion podcast episode</a>.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://www.maintenancephase.com/" target="_blank">Maintenance Phase</a> podcast. <br /></li></ul><p> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Trespasses-Novel-Louise-Kennedy-ebook/dp/B09S33RCG9/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1683576669&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Trespasses</a>
by Louse Kennedy. When it's 1970s Ireland and you're a young school
teacher by day working in a bar at night and you've met an irresistible
married man. I totally got why she fell for him and like her, totally did not see the consequences of the affair coming.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://girlinaboyhouse.com/2023/04/snow-selfies-sensitivities-and-segues/" target="_blank">HI NICOLE</a>! </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Before-Were-Innocent-Ella-Berman-ebook/dp/B0B5SRKJD3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2NNQRUVMB95JD&keywords=before+we+were+innocent&qid=1684787164&sprefix=before+we+were+inn%2Caps%2C169&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Before We Were Innocent</a>
by Ella Berman was a quick DNF, more my fault than the author's. The "we're lifelong friends but Something Bad
Happened a long time ago and it's a Big Secret that we Never Speak Of"
genre is a tricky one for me. I liked the first 50 books that I read on
this topic and then it just got old.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: for the life of me I don't remember. </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tomorrow-novel-Gabrielle-Zevin-ebook/dp/B09JBCGQB8/ref=sr_1_1?gclid=Cj0KCQiA6fafBhC1ARIsAIJjL8nZlFlRojAO9Rz0UOYtHBGUbebIDbp4DLNqOw_k7CyGCotcil3mqDsaAp_NEALw_wcB&hvadid=616931589028&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1023756&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=6938597029231795202&hvtargid=kwd-2680957140&hydadcr=24633_13611805&keywords=tomorrow+and+tomorrow&qid=1685386651&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow</a>
by Gabrille Zevin was another quick DNF. This is a very polarizing
book that people either loved or hated. I was neither, it just didn't
grab me enough to keep reading.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: everyone read it before me (and either loved or hated it).</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Circling-Sun-Novel-Paula-McLain-ebook/dp/B00R04GCMY/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=circling+the+sun+by+paula+mclain&qid=1685386901&sprefix=paula+mc%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Circling the Sun</a>
by Paula McClain. Historical fiction about the early aviator Beryl
Markham, whose life was so fascinating that the aviation part only
starts at 85% of the way through the book.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How
I heard about it: I LOOOOOOOOOVE the author and I needed a sure fire
hit after two back to back DNF's. I'm telling you right now that I will
read all of her backlist before 2023 is over.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hello-Beautiful-Novel-Ann-Napolitano-ebook/dp/B0B7R4Q5DJ/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=616863395985&hvdev=c&hvlocint=9015367&hvlocphy=9047887&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1328884096616420164&hvtargid=kwd-419376245&hydadcr=24660_13611807&keywords=hello+beautiful&qid=1685966739&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Hello Beautiful</a>
by Ann Napolitano. I was getting "over hyped" vibes from the
internets so I wasn't expecting much...and then I started reading it.
The hype is legit. I didn't really know what the book was about going
in and I think that's the perfect background. Heads up that this book
made me cry, and I don't mean a few tears. Once I got to the 75% mark
it was one big fat ugly sobfest with kleenex flying everywhere. And yes
I loved this book. 😻😻😻</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: everyone on the planet read it. </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/MWF-Seeking-BFF-Yearlong-Search/dp/0345524942" target="_blank">MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend</a>
by Rachel Bertsche (audio). Everyone says how hard it is to make new
friends as an adult, and the author went on a quest to get the scoop by
committing to go on 52 "girl dates" in one year.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://modernmrsdarcy.com/literary-tourism-chicago/" target="_blank">this post from Modern Mrs Darcy</a>.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stash-Hiding-Laura-Cathcart-Robbins-ebook/dp/B0B3Y8GMG2/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=stash+laura+cathcart+robbins&qid=1686752480&s=books&sprefix=stash+laur%2Cstripbooks%2C177&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Stash: My Life in Hiding</a>
by Laura Cathcart Robbins (audio). An addiction memoir with a twist.
Robbins is a black woman who built up a successful PR career from
nothing - high school dropout plus a brief drug stint. She married a
Big Deal Hollywood director, had two children...and had a miserable
life. Enter a casual Ambien prescription and everything fell apart.
I'm just going to say right now that if I ever have to life in the A
list Hollywood world I'd need A LOT of pills to get through it because
it does not sounds like fun.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: not sure? Maybe <a href="https://www.sarahsbookshelves.com/" target="_blank">Sarah's Bookshelves podcast</a>?</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/The-Handmaids-Tale/dp/3125776929/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=handmaids+tale+atwood&qid=1686751980&s=books&sprefix=handmaid%2Cstripbooks%2C92&sr=1-6" target="_blank">The Handmaid's Tale</a>
by Margaret Atwood. The great classic fiction that takes its basis in
fact. Atwood was very strict about only using real life examples of
things that have happened to women to craft a dystopian world where
women are valued...differently. 😻😻😻 </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How
I heard about it: duh, everyone has heard about this, it's one of the
greats of all time. After encountering some Atwood history on vacation
this summer I finally picked it up. </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Good-Enough-Job-Reclaiming-Life/dp/059353896X" target="_blank">The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work</a>
by Simone Stolzoff (audio). An exploration of how work went from what
we did to feed ourselves to our identity. The stories were interesting,
but I didn't really get an "answer" to the problem. Meh.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: no idea.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Jane-Jessica-Anya-Blau-ebook/dp/B08FK7MVPF/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=mary+jane+a+novel+jessica+anya+blau&qid=1688426085&sprefix=mary+jane+jessi%2Caps%2C961&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Mary Jane</a>
by Jessica Anya Blau. It's 1975 and Mary Jane is teenager from an
uptight family who lands a summer babysitting gig. The parents are
everything that hers are not, and they've got some fascinating summer
house guests. How long can she keep her parents from finding out how
cool her summer job is - and she's got to keep them from finding out
because once they do, it's going to be over in a hurry. This was a near
perfect book - good writing, a
straightforward story, and compelling characters. 😻😻😻</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://ngradstudent.blogspot.com/2023/06/mary-jane-by-jessica-anya-blau.html" target="_blank">Engie</a></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Paris-Wife-Paula-McLain/dp/0345521315" target="_blank">The Paris Wife</a>
by Paula McClain. Historical fiction about Hadley Richardson, aka the
first Mrs. Ernest Hemingway. I was looking for a sure fire hit for a
vacation read and McClain delivered yet again.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How
I heard about it: I'm working my way through this author's backlist.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Smile-Look-Pretty-Amanda-Pellegrino-ebook/dp/B08DL1GZDZ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=smile+and+look+pretty+book&qid=1690582427&s=books&sprefix=smile+and+loo%2Cstripbooks%2C134&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Smile and Look Pretty</a>
by Amanda Pellegrino. A tale of four executive assistants to the rich
and famous who get tired of their bosses behaving badly...so they start
an anonymous blog and spill the tea. So dishy, so good. 😻😻😻</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How
I heard about it: see above 😻😻😻 rating for Pellegrino's The Social
Climber, which was the book that recharged my reading life a few months
ago. I love her so much I cannot say.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Could-Live-Here-Forever-Novel/dp/0593492072" target="_blank">I Could Live Here Forever</a>
by Hanna Halperin. When you meet the perfect guy, but something seems a
little off. I was very lucky to come across this book while I was
stuck at the airport waiting for a delayed flight, because let me tell
you that once I started it I could not stop reading.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://thestripe.com/everything-i-read-in-june-2023/" target="_blank">The Stripe</a>.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BHTN23T7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_o00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">The Chateau</a>
by Jaclyn Golds. When a 95 year old grandmother summons her
granddaughters to her chateau in
France to discuss her will and Something Happens. The story is razor
tight but I had a bit of trouble with the people. The story is
told in alternating viewpoints of the main
characters, but everyone is so similar that I lost track of who was
who.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://thestripe.com/everything-i-read-in-june-2023/" target="_blank">The Stripe</a></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Many-Lives-Mama-Love-Stealing/dp/B0BWSD2CG4/ref=sr_1_1?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuNemBhCBARIsADp74QSd4uts9bt5RHmiabwxpuImNCdBu4PZIy5pvGmd9ouhNRdlCzjZ2FYaAotDEALw_wcB&hvadid=651209831889&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9015221&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12549489471954049539&hvtargid=kwd-1969134081760&hydadcr=7661_13469265&keywords=the+many+lives+of+mama+love&qid=1691779160&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Many Lives of Mama Love: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing</a>
by Lara Love Hardin (audio). What's the best opening line for a memoir
about heroin addiction and the crimes committed to support the habit?
How about "Reading was my first addiction"? Yep if you pick this one up
you won't put it down. 😻😻😻</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://www.sarahsbookshelves.com/podcast-episode-147-lara-love-hardin-author-of-the-many-lives-of-mama-love/" target="_blank">Sarah's Bookshelves</a></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/No-One-Needs-Know-Novel/dp/0593159101" target="_blank">No One Needs to Know</a>
by Lindsay Cameron. A thriller about a neighborhood Facebook page gone
wrong. Great idea, wrong neighborhood since it was set in hoity toity
NYC. I tried but the characters were just too caricaturist to be
believable. DNF at 25%. <br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://thestripe.com/everything-i-read-in-february-2023/" target="_blank">The Stripe</a>. </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Maltese-Falcon-Dashiell-Hammett/dp/0679722645" target="_blank">The Maltese Falcon</a>
by Dashiell Hammett. When you're Sam Spade and everyone you meet wants
you to find The Black Bird. 😻😻😻</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: I've only seen the movie one million times, my latest rewatch prompted a reread of the book.</li></ul><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Price_of_Salt" target="_blank">The Price of Salt</a>
by Patricia Highsmith. This one had a strong start with its tale of a
theater designer biding her time working in a department store while
waiting for the next theater job, but I lost interest by chapter 2. My
first ever Highsmith DNF.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: a random Youtube video on the locations used in the movie version (Carol).<br /></li></ul><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Tree_Grows_in_Brooklyn_(novel)" target="_blank">A Tree Grows in Brooklyn</a> by Betty Smith. This is my first time at the Book Club Rodeo and Engie picked the right book - go <a href="https://ngradstudent.blogspot.com/2023/06/810-judgment-book-club-2023-tree-grows.html" target="_blank">here</a>
to get in on the fun - yes the book club is over but there are a lot of
good thoughts and it's worth checking out. I remembered the book as
being "good" but I wasn't prepared for how good it was. 😻😻😻</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: duh it's a classic that everyone has heard of and everyone loves. I think I <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Tree_Grows_in_Brooklyn_(1945_film)" target="_blank">saw the movie first</a> and then read the book for the first time
in late high school/early college. There have been a couple of rereads
since then.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Tools-Essential-Strategies-Writer/dp/0316014990?crid=3GIZ5HYSGJK5T&dchild=1&keywords=writing+tools&qid=1626630492&s=books&sprefix=writing+tools,aps,225&sr=1-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=apurplelife-20&linkId=7345dd675054eb2c9b6c9e8be1686803&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank">Writing Tools: 55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer </a>and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Short-Craft-Times-ebook/dp/B00A4H25MU/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=YqyST&content-id=amzn1.sym.579192ca-1482-4409-abe7-9e14f17ac827&pf_rd_p=579192ca-1482-4409-abe7-9e14f17ac827&pf_rd_r=132-8682464-2585825&pd_rd_wg=b9sql&pd_rd_r=1e200ad5-fc29-4643-8af5-e88f2c3e8487&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk" target="_blank">How to Write Short: Word Craft for Fast Times</a>
by Roy Peter Clark. Every once in a while I get ambitions to up my
writing skills. The ideas are good, but right now I don't have the
bandwidth to sit down and absorb the material.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> How I heard about it: recommendation from Purple (aka my favorite person on the internet). I can't find the post but just <a href="https://apurplelife.com/" target="_blank">go to her blog and you'll find something good</a>.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Feel-Bad-About-My-Neck/dp/0307276821" target="_blank">I Feel Bad About My Neck</a>
by Nora Ephron (audio). This book is a jewel case packed full of
gems. I enjoyed it in my 30s but I related to more of it on this listen
in my late 40s. I'll be revisiting this once I get to the age where I
feel bad about my neck.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: I read it back when it came out, this rereading was prompted by <a href="https://girlinaboyhouse.com/2023/09/a-grave-mistake/" target="_blank">Nicole's</a> rave. <br /></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pictures-You-Caroline-Leavitt/dp/1565126319" target="_blank">Pictures of You</a>
by Caroline Levitt. The aftermath of a fatal car accident in a small
town. Rated M for meh. It was good enough to finish but didn't grab me
as The Best Book of All Time.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> How I heard about it: <a href="https://modernmrsdarcy.com/great-ebook-deals/" target="_blank">Modern Mrs. Darcy Great E-book Deals</a>.</li></ul><p> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tomorrow-Will-Be-Better-Novel/dp/0062988689" target="_blank">Tomorrow Will Be Better</a>
by Betty Smith. I read this because I was looking to get more juice
out of the ATGIB squeeze...unfortunately Tomorrow turned out to be one
bitter lemon. ATGIB was about poor people, coming of age, families, and
Brooklyn. Tomorrow is just about poor people.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard
about it: same author as ATGIB.<br /></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yellowface-Novel-R-F-Kuang/dp/0063250837" target="_blank">Yellowface</a>
by R.F. Kuang. When you and your frenemy are authors, but she's famous
and you're not, she writes everything on paper and you don't, and you
just happen to find her latest manuscript on the night that she dies and
you just happen to take it home with you, rewrite it, and publish it.
And your publisher decides that because your book is about China that
it's fine if they tweak your name a bit so that everyone thinks you're
Asian.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: dude, everyone has heard of it, it's one of the year's hottest books.<br /></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/I-Remember-Nothing-Nora-Ephron-ebook/dp/B003WUYOUM/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=174247618454&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9015367&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1475090256875228478&hvtargid=kwd-22523834351&hydadcr=24657_9648987&keywords=i+remember+nothing&qid=1696894058&s=books&sr=1-1" target="_blank">I Remember Nothing</a> by
Nora Ephron (audio). Another very concise jewel case full of Ephron
gems. I read this a long time ago and didn't remember it...no it's not a
self fulfilling prophecy of the title, it's because it's very similar
to I Feel Bad About My Neck, so in my memory I'd merged the two books
into one.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: see I Feel Bad About My Neck above.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wallflower-at-Orgy-Nora-Ephron/dp/0553385054" target="_blank">Wallflower at the Orgy</a>
by Nora Ephron (audio). A collection of essays from the late 60's,
long before the days of I Feel Bad About My Neck. This was a DNF about
halfway through because a lot of the essays were just too dated -
example the <i>very long</i> expose on Women's Wear Daily, the snarky
takedown on Frommer's Travel Guides. However the first two hours were
brilliant. If you're looking for an analysis of Helen Gurley Brown
followed by a takedown of Ayn Rand this is your book.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: part of my (abruptly winding down ) Nora Ephron binge.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Violin-Conspiracy-Brendan-Slocumb-ebook/dp/B0988Z1VMC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3GSIXOKDBPMKS&keywords=the+violin+conspiracy&qid=1697886773&s=books&sprefix=the+vio%2Cstripbooks%2C271&sr=1-1" target="_blank">The Violin Conspiracy</a>
by Brendan Slocumb. All I knew going in is that it was, duh, about a
violin and all that I'm going to tell you is that, duh, it's about a
violin and OMG IS THIS BOOK GOOD PLEASE DROP EVERYTHING AND GET
IT!!!!!!! 😻😻😻</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://www.sarahsbookshelves.com/podcast-episode-139-brendan-slocumb-author-of-symphony-of-secrets/" target="_blank">Sarah's Bookshelf Podcast</a> (and also a reminder from <a href="https://stephanywrites.com/what-im-reading-10-11-23/" target="_blank">Stephany</a>)<br /></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Court-Thorns-Roses-Sarah-Maas/dp/1635575567" target="_blank">A Court of Thorns and Roses</a>
by Sarah J. Mass. I know this is the "it" series and has been for some
time, but I just couldn't get my head into it and it was a quick DNF.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: um everyone has and it was a long hold to get it on Libby.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Sally-Diamond-Liz-Nugent-ebook/dp/B0BHTPF719/ref=sr_1_1?crid=38OZD38AJQFGR&keywords=strange+sally+diamond&qid=1698965131&s=books&sprefix=strange+sall%2Cstripbooks%2C112&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Strange Sally Diamond</a> by Liz Nugent. At first I had mixed feelings- the writing was
excellent, the
main character was very compelling, but there was a dark side that was
too
dark for me so I skimmed those parts of the book (and picked up the plot
points from the parts of the book that I read) The other thing that I
struggled with is that this book has a character and
plot points that are WAY TOO close to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely
Fine and another (unnamed for spoiler reasons) book. It was literally
like these two books had a baby. But the author took it all to a
completely original and stunning place so I'm cool with it. </p><p>Where I ended up is that this is one of the best books that I read this year - but I would not recommend it to my mother. 😻😻😻</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://www.sarahsbookshelves.com/podcast-episode-152-liz-nugent-author-of-strange-sally-diamond/" target="_blank">Sarah's Bookshelf podcast</a></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Symphony-Secrets-Brendan-Slocumb/dp/0593315448" target="_blank">Symphony of Secrets</a>
by Brendan Slocumb. A musician is hired to transcribe a recently found
long lost opera by a famous composer of the early 20th century - but
the further he gets into his work, the more evidence he sees that
someone else may have written it. Overall I liked this book BUT it's a
"but" book....I liked it BUT, it was good BUT...I felt that the big
conspiracy to suppress the evidence was way too heavy handed and the way
that the bad guys were stopped (spoiler?) was just way too convenient.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://www.sarahsbookshelves.com/podcast-episode-139-brendan-slocumb-author-of-symphony-of-secrets/" target="_blank">Sarah's Bookshelf Podcast</a> but I was on the fence until <a href="https://stephanywrites.com/what-im-reading-10-11-23/" target="_blank">Stephany endorsed it</a>. </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Falls-Novel-Angie-Kim-ebook/dp/B0BR4YVRSD" target="_blank">Happiness Falls</a>
by Angie Kim. A nonverbal boy and his father go out for a hike, and
only the boy comes home. This author's first book was a DNF for me but
I've heard such great things about this one that I wanted to try it.
Unfortunately history repeated and I found myself not being able to get
into the characters or caring one way or the other what happened to the
father. I lol'ed at a recent <a href="https://www.sarahsbookshelves.com/podcast-episode-155-fall-2023-circle-back-with-catherine-gilmoreguide/" target="_blank">Sarah's Bookshelf Podcast episode</a> where Sarah rated it her best book of the year so far and Catherine said she DNF'd at <u><b>96%!!!!!</b></u> I feel good about DNF'ing this one at 30%.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://www.sarahsbookshelves.com/podcast-episode-151-angie-kim-author-of-happiness-falls/" target="_blank">Sarah's Bookshelf Podcast</a></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Art-Scandal-Regina-Black/dp/1538722771" target="_blank">The Art of Scandal</a> by Regina Black. When you're the black wife of a
white mayor and your husband's political career is heating up...and
you're at a party and he sends you a dick pic...and you realize that it
wasn't intended for you. It was a great set up, but I found myself losing interest after the dick pic.<b><br /></b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: <a href="https://www.sarahsbookshelves.com/" target="_blank">Sarah's Bookshelf Podcast</a>.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chequer-Board-Nevil-Shute-ebook/dp/B07PBLBKTD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24RQLJ85CYJ8W&keywords=the+chequer+board&qid=1700529279&s=books&sprefix=the+cheque%2Cstripbooks%2C117&sr=1-1" target="_blank">The Chequer Board</a>
by Nevil Shute. A reread of one of my all time favorites. A WWII
veteran learns that he will die from the injuries that he sustained in
the war. His life is empty and his marriage is a mess, so what to do
with his remaining time? Spoiler: the answer that he finds takes care
of the empty life and the marriage problems. 😻😻😻</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: Shute is one of my all time favorite authors. I feel a rereading binge coming on.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Town-Like-Alice-Vintage-International-ebook/dp/B0036894N2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=333OZJJPPM4ND&keywords=a+town+like+alice+book&qid=1703014545&sprefix=a+town+like+a%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-1" target="_blank">A Town Like Alice</a>
by Nevil Shute. Another reread of one of my all time favorites. A
young woman who is a survivor of a WWII death march is living a very
dreary life in post war England when she gets a call from a lawyer and
learns that a distant relative has left her a lot of money. It's enough
money that she never has to work again, but there are a bunch of
stipulations that will keep her from doing anything too crazy. Over
time she develops a friendship with the executor of the estate and tells
him about her experiences in the war, which leads her to figure out how
to spend the money. 😻😻😻</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: See above, one of my all time fav authors.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Alibi-Kinsey-Millhone-Mystery-ebook/dp/B002HHPVBC/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2CJSV6JHNQ0X3&keywords=a+is+for+alibi+sue+grafton&qid=1703014513&sprefix=a+if+for+alibi%2Caps%2C199&sr=8-4" target="_blank">A is for Alibi</a> by Sue Grafton. When you're a tough private eye and you get asked to look into an old murder case.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How
I heard about it: don't laugh, but the first time I ever head about the
Alphabet series was from someone that I dated a million years ago who
hated to read and said that these books were the only books that he ever
read. I had these on my "never gonna read it" list for no other reason
than "well if that guy liked it there's no way these books can be
good". Since then I've heard of these books a million other times but
it was the co-recommendation of <a href="https://lifeofadoctorswife.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Suzanne</a> and <a href="https://ngradstudent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Engie</a> that made me finally check them out.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Rose-Vintage-International-ebook/dp/B003WUYOLQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=147AN84SE0UQQ&keywords=rainbow+and+the+rose&qid=1703014585&sprefix=rainbow+and+the+rose%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Rainbow and the Rose</a>
by Nevil Shute. A pilot in Australia hears that his flying instructor
from back when he was a teenager has had a plane crash in the outback
and it critically injured. Due to the location and the weather, the
rescue mission is very complicated and dangerous. The pilot idolized
his instructor and volunteers to do the flight. Over the course of the
mission he learns about the legend that he didn't really know and meets
people: his daughter who doesn't think that the risk is worth the
rescue, a doctor who goes from being lukewarm to obsessed with the
rescue, and a mysterious young woman who is also All In on the rescue.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: a reread by one of my all time fav authors.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Burglar-Kinsey-Millhone-Alphabet-Mysteries/dp/0312939000" target="_blank">B is for Burglar</a>
by Sue Grafton. When you're a tough private eye and some dame pays you
a lot of money to find her missing sister but doesn't want the police
involved and all comparisons to The Maltese Falcon end there.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Continuing the series.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Longest-Race-Inside-Deception-Running/dp/B0B4ZHGH8T/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2F1RM54FBLLYV&keywords=kara+goucher&qid=1703640332&s=books&sprefix=kara+gou%2Cstripbooks%2C123&sr=1-2" target="_blank">The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike's Elite Running Team</a> by Kara Goucher (audio). As you can guess by the title, this is not an easy read but it's a powerful one.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How I heard about it: everyone in the running world has heard of this.<br /> </li></ul><p></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-70537940379760205642023-12-26T21:10:00.003-05:002023-12-26T21:10:34.708-05:00Weekly Round Up: Christmas Recap 2023<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpCq4Lz_DSFI0q3ZjQM61kUWmuI3HUVVvJm64BrLF3QGlFTTvrTJXtqwvk_vixIwLZGrLt27_o5mKvSR3vguw2W1AUxvyGkb0nWZTuux88RwjRyHNJLjyIDBWj4BdYCOyqKZ29xb4A_qwz6TPXseFnHRxl32I2qxO4s2V5ziDNYwSPO-3BM0Azg2VPBk/s4032/2023-12-25%2017.24.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpCq4Lz_DSFI0q3ZjQM61kUWmuI3HUVVvJm64BrLF3QGlFTTvrTJXtqwvk_vixIwLZGrLt27_o5mKvSR3vguw2W1AUxvyGkb0nWZTuux88RwjRyHNJLjyIDBWj4BdYCOyqKZ29xb4A_qwz6TPXseFnHRxl32I2qxO4s2V5ziDNYwSPO-3BM0Azg2VPBk/w640-h480/2023-12-25%2017.24.06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>A weekly round up: eats, workouts, watches, and reads. In this week's edition I'll tell you about our Christmas eats, a new-to-me workout that I've started doing, the Christmas classic that I finally watched, and some book stuff.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><b>Eats</b><br /><p></p><p>Christmas was up in the air for a bit. There was a COVID case in the extended family, so up until the day before we debated whether we were having the big family gathering or not. Fortunately COVID took a hike so we partied it up. We got a couple of lasagnas from the really nice Italian restaurant, garlic bread, and salad.</p><p>I was on dessert duty, and that involved some decisions as well. One of my Facebook friends posted about an epic Black Forest cake that she'd gotten from Costco and that was my #1 pick for Christmas. That left the question about whether I was going to bake anything at all since we had a smaller crowd. The decision was made for me since Costco didn't have the cake after all but the next time I see it in the store I'm taking it home with me. </p><p>Two days before Christmas I started baking:<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Oreo balls. Our standard recipe is one box of oreos plus one box of cream cheese processed in the food processor, set aside in the fridge for a bit to solidify, then roll into balls and tuck into the freezer for a bit, dip in chocolate and enjoy.</li><li>Shortbread cookies via Home Goods - seriously I can't make anything better than Walker's and when I saw their sampler box I snapped it up. </li><li>Cranberry Crumble Bars via <a href="https://lifeofadoctorswife.wordpress.com/2023/12/22/five-for-friday-its-almost-christmas-edition/" target="_blank">Life of a Doctor's Wife</a> via <a href="https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/cranberry-crumble-pie-bars/" target="_blank">Sally's Baking Addiction</a>. This was a gamble since I knew that I would like them but possibly no one else in the family would. This ended up not being a problem since they won the endorsement of the harder-to-please of the two stepsons.<br /></li><li>Kiss Cookies via <a href="https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/candy-cane-kiss-cookies/" target="_blank">Sally's Baking Addiction</a>. If I had to pick a least favorite, this would be it. There was nothing "wrong" with them but also nothing spectacular. <br /></li><li>M&M cookie bars via <a href="https://www.averiecooks.com/mms-chocolate-chip-cookie-bars/" target="_blank">Averie Cooks</a>, a double batch which is pretty standard for every recipe on her site.</li></ul><p>It's also worth mentioning that for the first time ever, we decided that we have a "go to" Christmas family brunch menu for the four of us. We love the French toast casserole and the quiches that we always have for Easter, and we realized that we need to have them more often than once a year.</p><p>I'd never made French toast casserole before and it was shockingly easy. The only reason that I'm not sharing the recipe is that the one that I used called for putting a mixture of brown sugar and butter on the bottom...where it congealed and very nearly scorched. I'm sure that the fault was somehow mine, but I'll use another recipe next time. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMulSyyv0ms4fhAO-uIy1WqU1w22hIv4giQM9OoRcwfrXmKuxo-YdKdmZMLuGM5GAtXgShAwI-qyc6My6dXCNIhIF764Hwm7JLYnQlOFmoMLztOW8o-6EQ-n4YmnGRtwSrpcmNstjKGHIbmeA3rUZM3t2RcKOQGefKvpifEyLc7q6ShhTaZkfkZ3ap0tI/s4032/2023-12-25%2011.29.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMulSyyv0ms4fhAO-uIy1WqU1w22hIv4giQM9OoRcwfrXmKuxo-YdKdmZMLuGM5GAtXgShAwI-qyc6My6dXCNIhIF764Hwm7JLYnQlOFmoMLztOW8o-6EQ-n4YmnGRtwSrpcmNstjKGHIbmeA3rUZM3t2RcKOQGefKvpifEyLc7q6ShhTaZkfkZ3ap0tI/w640-h480/2023-12-25%2011.29.48.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>You're supposed to use stale bread for French toast, and I had my bases covered. I used the leftover rolls from Thanksgiving that we'd had in the freezer ever since.<p></p><p>I usually double the <a href="https://www.verybestbaking.com/carnation/recipes/crustless-broccoli-and-cheddar-mini-quiches/ " target="_blank">quiche recipe</a> that we use for Easter and I got caught off guard by my notes in past Easter recaps. I'd said that I used 6 slices of bacon in place of the broccoli and 1 and 1/2 cups milk in place of condensed milk, but I wasn't clear if that was for the single or the double version. I made the lucky guess that I'd meant for the single version;-)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZReR0ZpbtVtFB9pWjRdRoMWwgyOeAsuVY-hHdGuX_TUOyY-PptydUVuZ8vYOiNaVWFUtOrPmqsgU8HrHGyLtEKfUanM2RbCQerUvaI5DnT-ddFW1rjHM2vI5pE5CdXtTgFas7f_rJNKPgmlBIE4oOluYWqbLfJRekXa2w27rF-uNWg-hjJvm2hPnhWY/s4032/2023-12-25%2011.29.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2922" data-original-width="4032" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZReR0ZpbtVtFB9pWjRdRoMWwgyOeAsuVY-hHdGuX_TUOyY-PptydUVuZ8vYOiNaVWFUtOrPmqsgU8HrHGyLtEKfUanM2RbCQerUvaI5DnT-ddFW1rjHM2vI5pE5CdXtTgFas7f_rJNKPgmlBIE4oOluYWqbLfJRekXa2w27rF-uNWg-hjJvm2hPnhWY/w640-h464/2023-12-25%2011.29.57.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>Workouts</b></p><p>On the strength front I finished the full body workouts in the Caroline Girvan <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhu1QCKrfgPUj7yv484Qhtm-mLZvilnbL" target="_blank">Epic Endgame</a> series. She has a new series on the CGX app starting in January which I might try, and in the meantime I'm doing some of the shorter workouts from her app's Advent program.</p><p>For my pushups this week, I randomly remembered the <a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/10-to-6-workout/" target="_blank">10-to-6 workout</a> from one million years ago that I loved so much and stole that format. You start with a set of 10, then a set of 9, then 8, then 7, and a final set of 6 pushups. Doing one less rep each time is quite a motivator.</p><p>For cardio, <a href="https://optimisticmusings.com/the-one-where-i-dont-post-on-monday-and-then-post-on-monday/" target="_blank">Elisabeth</a> just started doing the 12-3-30 workout which is or was all the rage with the cool kids a while ago: 12% incline, 3 MPH, and 30 minutes. I'd heard of it of course, but never got further than trying to imagine what that much incline with that slow a pace must feel like. Well, after Elisabeth's reminder I decided to find out. Elisabeth does it at 10% because that's as high as her treadmill goes, and in the same spirit I only did it for 20 minutes the first few times to get my bearings. Well, it turns out that the cool kids know what they're talking about. The slow speed really lets you ease in to the 12% and it's quite achievable and before long I was willing to do the full 30 minutes which is longer than I've been on the treadmill in quite a while. I think I'll make this my winter cardio go-to for the next few weeks and see what happens. The only negative thing that I can say is that I feel like my body is adapting to it very quickly so the worst case there is that I'll need to speed it up to keep the intensity.<br /></p><p><b>Watching</b></p><p>It's been forever since I've watched a regular TV show. I scoured the internet to find something and came up with an Australian show on Amazon Prime. <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14671640/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_class%2520of%252007" target="_blank">Class of 07</a> is about a 10 year high school reunion at an all female boarding school that goes terribly wrong. An apocalyptic tidal wave strikes, which turns the school campus into an island and it's not clear what the status of the rest of the world is. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L5hbAt-7jd0" width="320" youtube-src-id="L5hbAt-7jd0"></iframe></div><p> </p><p>Now look it's not The Greatest Show Ever Made, but it's very watchable and conveniently has 30 minute episodes that pair very nicely with my new 30 minute treadmill workout, so we've got a match. Between you and me I have never been and will never go to a school reunion, and a trope that really bugs me in fiction is the "Something Happened in school that continues to weigh down the rest of our lives into our 30's and we just can't move on from it". I've DNF'd book after book where the fact that school sucked is the most interesting thing that's happened to the characters but now that someone finally put it into a one season TV show with some Lord of the Flies mixed in I am all about it.<br /></p><p>On a more seasonal note, Hubs and I finally watched <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319343/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_elf" target="_blank">Elf</a>, which neither of us had seen before. It was...fine. Not good, not bad, and an enjoyable enough way to spend an evening.</p><p>On Christmas Eve day the Hubs and I also got in a showing of <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_it%27s%2520a" target="_blank">It's a Wonderful Life</a>, which he'd never seen before. If we can we might squeeze in a showing of Christmas Vacation before we call it for the season.<br /></p><p><b>Reading</b></p><p>Three things to tell you:<b> <br /></b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I finished The Rainbow and the Rose by Nevil Shute, which is a reread of one of my favorite authors. It had been so long that I'd forgotten just about everything so it was practically a new book. I'd rate this as "Nevil Shute: Advanced Level". The author was an engineer IRL and this book definitely has a more technical edge to it. I'd steer you in the direction of A Town Like Alice of No Highway for your first Shute instead of this, but I did enjoy it.</li><li>Currently: continuing the alphabet! <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Burglar-Kinsey-Millhone-Alphabet-Mysteries/dp/0312939000" target="_blank">B is for Burglar</a> by Sue Grafton.</li><li>My podcast playlist was getting lean so I started an audiobook. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Longest-Race-Inside-Deception-Running/dp/B0B4ZHGH8T/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2F1RM54FBLLYV&keywords=kara+goucher&qid=1703640332&s=books&sprefix=kara+gou%2Cstripbooks%2C123&sr=1-2" target="_blank">The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike's Elite Running Team</a> by Kara Goucher is definitely not an easy listen, but it's a powerful book. <br /></li></ul><p><b>Future Dog Update</b></p><p>It has now been a month since Stepdog passed away, and Hubs and I have come to the conclusion that not having a dog sucks. We know that we're not ready yet, but we're thinking that Future Dog will come into our lives sooner rather than later. Stepdog was a great advocate for dog ownership and we've realized that we're in exactly the same boat as all of our family and friends who got dogs as a result of Stepdog. Just like them we can't have Stepdog but we still want a dog!!! We're flexible but in theory Future Dog is some kind of a Shepherd mix, youngish but not a puppy, and most likely female.</p><p>We talked it over with the kids, and Stepson #1 had a great idea. Since Stepdog's birthday was on Easter, he suggested that would probably be the right time to get another dog. Decently in the future but not unbearably far into the future.</p><p>BTW, I feel like I've borrowed the term "Future Dog" from somewhere but I can't find the source. Has anyone else heard this term?</p><p><b>Advent Puzzle Update</b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhZWtsbAd84p1nEXW7tO59QNR_vVuq2BpFIlmG-ECFmqrugPwGh2b93WoCf6LRBboK81zNaprVc5cF62D2r_Rbr6F4L0VurkykFHvLhIecMOgmUnnX9liVzuh0OV4Ti4zN9pd4SorsuGmvrvXNRoPr7oTcmW5RREgOO4llkyNCrQ49j_rFSAES607oiY/s4032/2023-12-24%2021.03.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhZWtsbAd84p1nEXW7tO59QNR_vVuq2BpFIlmG-ECFmqrugPwGh2b93WoCf6LRBboK81zNaprVc5cF62D2r_Rbr6F4L0VurkykFHvLhIecMOgmUnnX9liVzuh0OV4Ti4zN9pd4SorsuGmvrvXNRoPr7oTcmW5RREgOO4llkyNCrQ49j_rFSAES607oiY/w640-h480/2023-12-24%2021.03.29.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Fireplace-Decoration-Countdown-Size27-5in/dp/B0CG6BH981/ref=sr_1_41?crid=7OGDSFZE790C&keywords=puzzle+advent+calendar+2023&qid=1699065805&sprefix=puzzle+a%2Caps%2C293&sr=8-41" target="_blank"> 10/10 highly recommend</a>.<b><br /></b><p></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-2076916723611451962023-12-21T10:27:00.001-05:002023-12-21T10:27:36.610-05:00Let's Go Places: The Rust Belt Travel Guide!!!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTCpXtL-OHe93K_cSeK6MBj_TLFr44x3HXRqHaQdi2xqfPGhy_vCn_P_8NkyodnMt_DE_QP4ezf_4R8BjRwOmWEkEDWeYuLOLH8IlIhhg1Yx9Db-nJ2GzecyCZm9mIvp4gKQITW1izMUSx2VxWl5pFYN21fYM7aJ0K0bJXBBWbC5OREQK_Iw4qkMBblc/s4898/IMG_4522.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTCpXtL-OHe93K_cSeK6MBj_TLFr44x3HXRqHaQdi2xqfPGhy_vCn_P_8NkyodnMt_DE_QP4ezf_4R8BjRwOmWEkEDWeYuLOLH8IlIhhg1Yx9Db-nJ2GzecyCZm9mIvp4gKQITW1izMUSx2VxWl5pFYN21fYM7aJ0K0bJXBBWbC5OREQK_Iw4qkMBblc/w640-h426/IMG_4522.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Friends, I got you something for Christmas. It's a dedicated page on the blog that is a one stop shop listing of all of the cool places that I've found on my home turf. Announcing: <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/p/the-rust-belt-travel-guide.html" target="_blank">The Rust Belt Travel Guide</a>. I'll keep it updated in real time as I continue to go places.</p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>When I first started getting out of the house to see what was in my backyard, I was amazed at what I was finding, but I didn't think that it was very good blog material. The odds that anyone reading is jumping out of their chair and saying "DANG! She went to an abandoned rail tunnel in central Ohio??? Well look out cuz Ima drop everything and go to the abandoned rail tunnel in central Ohio!!!" seemed pretty slim. I felt that it was good enough to write about the <i>concept</i> of getting out and seeing what you have locally.</p><p>Over time I've changed my tune. I still hope very much that you will venture out and see the treasures that you have in your neck of the woods, but also this stuff is just too good not to share.</p><p>I'll continue to write up my past travels and add new ones, and since we're already here, let me give you a "quickie" and tell you about the time that I went to an abandoned rail tunnel.<br /></p><p>In the fall of 2022 I talked my family into doing a girls' weekend at <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2022/10/weekly-round-up-one-up.html" target="_blank">Hocking Hills State Park</a>. Due to our schedules we all traveled separately, so I came up with a list of things to check out on the way there. The internets told me about Moonville Tunnel, which is an old railway tunnel in the town of Moonville, which became a ghost town in the 1940s. As soon as I found out about it, I involuntary nodded my head and said (to myself) "I am so going there".<br /></p><p>I fired up the GPS and was zipping along the back roads of Ohio. I turned on to a single lane gravel road that went on for a good bit and finally I arrived at the tunnel. The long, dark, supposedly haunted tunnel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0T6UMFDnaUmE63OP9z2EuGi_7Fw6Bz9dWb38PesRccLc-3zftN-y1-gQSA3NYlePwHd6zj2jDR4WfB3TGAtjvmm1GAD7aiQXvF5C-7U5VZMTWeALgOTWXPxawggzR0M3xghgsf-FmtYh0gsyoIfhyKpXqOzN74EbbHkvnQqROuSX1h8iNaF9ATpb2enk/s4898/IMG_4528.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0T6UMFDnaUmE63OP9z2EuGi_7Fw6Bz9dWb38PesRccLc-3zftN-y1-gQSA3NYlePwHd6zj2jDR4WfB3TGAtjvmm1GAD7aiQXvF5C-7U5VZMTWeALgOTWXPxawggzR0M3xghgsf-FmtYh0gsyoIfhyKpXqOzN74EbbHkvnQqROuSX1h8iNaF9ATpb2enk/w640-h426/IMG_4528.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Now I will say that it was very cold in the tunnel, but there was nothing else that was giving off "haunted" vibes. The inside is covered with very bright and cheerful graffiti.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOyoMZBDsCI0k8YrkZUOH-Shzlh035u1GR_tUdDUsHuP9tEn8nEnua6EN_iGN5CRuqhpvr0c2KLafApPqWw3rstM4Q7nahqIzktIF8749TBGcyLl4DaCxGnofFCTOzDyBDA0X67sAF8uqsrjUwgykx463wobSapygwU_kr0XUuifnh37g-y6pR8keSK4/s4032/2022-10-21%2014.22.58.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOyoMZBDsCI0k8YrkZUOH-Shzlh035u1GR_tUdDUsHuP9tEn8nEnua6EN_iGN5CRuqhpvr0c2KLafApPqWw3rstM4Q7nahqIzktIF8749TBGcyLl4DaCxGnofFCTOzDyBDA0X67sAF8uqsrjUwgykx463wobSapygwU_kr0XUuifnh37g-y6pR8keSK4/w640-h480/2022-10-21%2014.22.58.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUyl2mHMlak2IdJ_tTWOCXfDou_O4nGhaxYObxLlQGEsHAptHKnZ16P8Vfa3kycyy-Ga3esVtOoQlBENG0ATvtCIDjmaCQGazSplhdXUOdhEzxY7NwHw3_I-nvUQwtxXEiUAr3e4Bd9IIwWV4l1BIR2pPTEga1NjdVdkdRYlY_gBMhpQl7q5aplh0R-I/s4032/2022-10-21%2014.27.13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUyl2mHMlak2IdJ_tTWOCXfDou_O4nGhaxYObxLlQGEsHAptHKnZ16P8Vfa3kycyy-Ga3esVtOoQlBENG0ATvtCIDjmaCQGazSplhdXUOdhEzxY7NwHw3_I-nvUQwtxXEiUAr3e4Bd9IIwWV4l1BIR2pPTEga1NjdVdkdRYlY_gBMhpQl7q5aplh0R-I/w640-h480/2022-10-21%2014.27.13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCx-2tL0CIclwO47Ma1_ZL0GExoQcAne2IfHNNdofEsm0AhUG4xxBQH4JKRn09RG7J4Yjmgj1Y__lBRc3Ed2ZN0AW3aN5E5WvxC9Omql5Ga5xpY9oCBfgdQvvrtgI3MlVPQywiFQGryt-4w2h0lcrYJNtpy-hm8AbyonLOdqP8Gc6tJ4TYN6ocEHPoEA8/s4898/IMG_4530.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCx-2tL0CIclwO47Ma1_ZL0GExoQcAne2IfHNNdofEsm0AhUG4xxBQH4JKRn09RG7J4Yjmgj1Y__lBRc3Ed2ZN0AW3aN5E5WvxC9Omql5Ga5xpY9oCBfgdQvvrtgI3MlVPQywiFQGryt-4w2h0lcrYJNtpy-hm8AbyonLOdqP8Gc6tJ4TYN6ocEHPoEA8/w640-h426/IMG_4530.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Finally I arrived on the other side of the tunnel.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiFyuj6Am2U-qOMv_pYrhUbnagGJ7Gu7JI_UddcAXSfjYCbpf3aoOUhDdstjKA370L7IAhEAXzOqQJlaABXwpuWbMeRVqfDmbQxJFMY25n-XVa8Ib6cd2t9Qfjt-c_al2uto0CTTpkrsWwp8M4EywwuFthgDwD1cL7gX5k_SFqI9cdcAXWAEWczeoDAg/s4898/IMG_4539.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiFyuj6Am2U-qOMv_pYrhUbnagGJ7Gu7JI_UddcAXSfjYCbpf3aoOUhDdstjKA370L7IAhEAXzOqQJlaABXwpuWbMeRVqfDmbQxJFMY25n-XVa8Ib6cd2t9Qfjt-c_al2uto0CTTpkrsWwp8M4EywwuFthgDwD1cL7gX5k_SFqI9cdcAXWAEWczeoDAg/w640-h426/IMG_4539.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5v_ZVtq-mKxY9ZiBLI7FjBFfnXmkGgjb8CDJZSn_lqE8miMfPnlnKXIkp_zbmKip7FeLJRucFPJGqZigHJ3eov0tHAm9hhBPUeHxOBUIUD1jLdafLTwQyzmUDsJExsSqL69M1MWVYIMERYUVARtLrnuvmWJSzc5sAG0dMeh3MrafdUe19S1-YVQJZPMM/s4898/IMG_4541.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5v_ZVtq-mKxY9ZiBLI7FjBFfnXmkGgjb8CDJZSn_lqE8miMfPnlnKXIkp_zbmKip7FeLJRucFPJGqZigHJ3eov0tHAm9hhBPUeHxOBUIUD1jLdafLTwQyzmUDsJExsSqL69M1MWVYIMERYUVARtLrnuvmWJSzc5sAG0dMeh3MrafdUe19S1-YVQJZPMM/w640-h426/IMG_4541.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The trail leads to another abandoned rail tunnel, the Kings Station Tunnel. Supposedly you can drive to it, but when I put it in to my GPS it took
me on another gravel road in the middle of nowhere and I couldn't find
the tunnel.</p><p>On the hiking path the tunnels are about 3 miles apart, so a bit longer than I had time for that day. I also wasn't too keen on venturing out further by myself. There were a few other people around but not very many people, it was far off the road, and there was no cell signal. My spidey senses told me that I was in the zone of "there is such a thing as being too alone". I went back to my car and headed to our cabin in the woods with a hot tub and commenced Girls' Weekend.<br /></p><p>But it was a really cool place and I'm hoping to explore it further one day with company.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-30071364618739952732023-12-19T11:15:00.000-05:002023-12-19T11:15:58.742-05:00Week in the Life: Sunday December 17<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5v9EGDOmqGmA1ycQzjMwuog4vEG2bi4VrybA8RlxMT-aLur2Ke5hNtdFf-gXTuS0eCBxm-da8Ld2ui5DFHUnk7PA4Ul4zO4YLUzARU7VnMbfjYGl8GNPLhRXFfNThPH7p9nS7fEH7aRyvIgcmlqRh0en3iYd3u-DNfZnBTKMWbhJ3qCPKQOyBqDCWws/s4032/2023-12-17%2009.10.57.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5v9EGDOmqGmA1ycQzjMwuog4vEG2bi4VrybA8RlxMT-aLur2Ke5hNtdFf-gXTuS0eCBxm-da8Ld2ui5DFHUnk7PA4Ul4zO4YLUzARU7VnMbfjYGl8GNPLhRXFfNThPH7p9nS7fEH7aRyvIgcmlqRh0en3iYd3u-DNfZnBTKMWbhJ3qCPKQOyBqDCWws/w640-h480/2023-12-17%2009.10.57.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Hey friends, we're doing a one week experiment where we hang out each
day and I'll tell you everything that's going on in my life (inspired by
Stephany's <a href="https://stephanywrites.com/week-in-the-life-monday-november-6th/" target="_blank">Week in the Life</a> series). </p><p>Somehow a full week has gone by already and our time of hanging out together daily is at an end. But that doesn't mean that you're SOL if you want more week in the life...because <a href="https://kimhastheruns.com/2023/12/week-in-the-life-monday-december-18/" target="_blank">YES YES YES YES KIM IS DOING IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!</a><br /></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>I sleep past 7 and stay in bed until the Hubs wakes up. We go downstairs together and tiptoe past a heap of sleeping boys in the living room. We make breakfast and hang out in the back room</p><p>The Mug du Jour is my other big coffee mug: What part of [elaborate music score] don't you understand? It was funnier back when I played piano. I gave that up a few years ago when I realized that I was never going to progress beyond where I was and every practice session just felt like it was reinforcing my mediocre music skills. The more I think about it I actually hate the mug now, so I should find another big coffee mug that I would enjoy drinking my weekend coffee out of. I grab another Costco breakfast sandwich out of the freezer and toss it in the air fryer. Wordle/Spelling Bee/NYT crossword go down and blogs are read.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1MXKuV3NUx9lsPsNS5GITDsqPM6PSXl_W47n4MCsF3JLnWwIp9yGivpEHIUgwViN9PCrysFGr7UX9RGg-DgAcwLhzSKrea2WmLl11MvoOPKOWS0tSpip14LkSmMHWuMwVnujxi5-3XtVs_mSlLw09GBqaGOwrm2I-Um2PGE8DfKKyEy7It2WUQDJt3E/s2208/2023-12-17%2008.36.03.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="1242" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1MXKuV3NUx9lsPsNS5GITDsqPM6PSXl_W47n4MCsF3JLnWwIp9yGivpEHIUgwViN9PCrysFGr7UX9RGg-DgAcwLhzSKrea2WmLl11MvoOPKOWS0tSpip14LkSmMHWuMwVnujxi5-3XtVs_mSlLw09GBqaGOwrm2I-Um2PGE8DfKKyEy7It2WUQDJt3E/w360-h640/2023-12-17%2008.36.03.png" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>There's no getting around it, I've got a huge case of the Sunday Scaries. I don't have a plan for what I want to do today and I don't want to go back to work tomorrow. After a week of days of back to back sunshine it's gloomy and cold.</p><p>Spoiler there's no "and then this amazing thing happened that turned the day around", it's just an overall dreary day. </p><p>Later in the afternoon I hit the grocery store for a pretty hefty haul and I'm amazed that it's only $75. In total there have been 4 trips to the grocery this week and $150 spent which seems low. I've skated by without going to Costco.</p><p>I restock my <a href="https://thecheaplazyvegan.com/eggless-breakfast-burrito/" target="_blank">eggless breakfast burrito</a> supply. I usually don't bother to add spinach but I did this time because I made another recipe that used it.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VAr6ryDsgaLbMc5xmVFkWLNpuF1nBGvpqhZJJGdpTgd9JUGLyu6Venbg7l2HDYjC0BHCH4uYoV_SLUlECYfZXIgkPZK7cm0lqcc1sqvRcRWygq0CJ0jpTWSCgMIxRDZiEG_m2HSgbyE5kmTNl7sqB7Sv58NBXpfAB0TtfBtLf5P1elUYg9v4OBgLVAY/s4032/2023-12-17%2016.44.28.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VAr6ryDsgaLbMc5xmVFkWLNpuF1nBGvpqhZJJGdpTgd9JUGLyu6Venbg7l2HDYjC0BHCH4uYoV_SLUlECYfZXIgkPZK7cm0lqcc1sqvRcRWygq0CJ0jpTWSCgMIxRDZiEG_m2HSgbyE5kmTNl7sqB7Sv58NBXpfAB0TtfBtLf5P1elUYg9v4OBgLVAY/w640-h480/2023-12-17%2016.44.28.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I'm a big proponent of always having burritos in the freezer but all burritos look the same from the outside so labeling is important. My code is unlabeled = non-breakfast burritos, BB = the egg, sausage, and potato breakfast burritos that are my gold standard, and now VBB = veggie breakfast burritos. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIQGXFaWHoVYcnvYobz2jlhnNALlaR0epzht5ylEUgUEmyDrD2F-6U0CEZ5xO6qTjX6zJvX8DWNSzukw_C5yzsahOcB9Sojufkbt5sAzBq7v-MF_q9P5taxsV0QASu5opiLL7YtGXf0agwINw6rfUpemyUuGvk-3N-W0gG9BofdCA6PSUEGWApE3DLck/s4032/2023-12-17%2017.01.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIQGXFaWHoVYcnvYobz2jlhnNALlaR0epzht5ylEUgUEmyDrD2F-6U0CEZ5xO6qTjX6zJvX8DWNSzukw_C5yzsahOcB9Sojufkbt5sAzBq7v-MF_q9P5taxsV0QASu5opiLL7YtGXf0agwINw6rfUpemyUuGvk-3N-W0gG9BofdCA6PSUEGWApE3DLck/w640-h480/2023-12-17%2017.01.48.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Then I make a tofu curry for lunches which is where the other half of the bag of spinach went. It's a new recipe and it's kinda meh so I won't share it. I'll keep searching for a better curry but this will do for now.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5yF88S3pmGDKQwMQrhDPTFFImU46kbfI6ynoYUYXnxAWbpBmsU1EQ1TCVsops7H4kfvFza1vbDLrTK1iIYysN-C6Q7-nFvZV1HMPma73qoq_aNml65rKatUXztimL-lb3z39oqeN1KD0TeViaPdscrF2R1OgVXRj0S7gXcYwhWLtBQjkqI9m6r_XTI0/s4032/2023-12-17%2017.24.14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5yF88S3pmGDKQwMQrhDPTFFImU46kbfI6ynoYUYXnxAWbpBmsU1EQ1TCVsops7H4kfvFza1vbDLrTK1iIYysN-C6Q7-nFvZV1HMPma73qoq_aNml65rKatUXztimL-lb3z39oqeN1KD0TeViaPdscrF2R1OgVXRj0S7gXcYwhWLtBQjkqI9m6r_XTI0/w640-h480/2023-12-17%2017.24.14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The fam takes off for their nighttime activity. I make <a href="https://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2014/09/baked-ziti.html " target="_blank">baked ziti</a> which is ready by the time they come home. The Hubs and I grab a glass of wine to go with dinner.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXpTRtZFzCDQVrST3PTNH8gpbr0tRbyiO7vYvTVtTC45nkx3T0HpB3DuKEvCFnG9ZnWmm4MKosyExaYkBK4DPKxA6UhM8vqg5WorWDDCET6W_WA3gejp8Z5oTO6lwmUdwwN1ga1ncGX3bDazNLGHn96tIu_c070LtQPiNT02jJS4EbE40Ruw4QXl4jDc/s4032/2023-12-17%2018.50.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXpTRtZFzCDQVrST3PTNH8gpbr0tRbyiO7vYvTVtTC45nkx3T0HpB3DuKEvCFnG9ZnWmm4MKosyExaYkBK4DPKxA6UhM8vqg5WorWDDCET6W_WA3gejp8Z5oTO6lwmUdwwN1ga1ncGX3bDazNLGHn96tIu_c070LtQPiNT02jJS4EbE40Ruw4QXl4jDc/w640-h480/2023-12-17%2018.50.36.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Another day another Advent puzzle session.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDemZUdQY5As4U6bXU2U4rEclbCpbzh2z5G2OByaZkAsyy8lnBNbIB9LUGCHeIJh91oTc0gX-xdNVu6eIyNNQp_tc-YgPbZikPoJGEil_TXij_n-5RGepXK3KiS7PXtYcCXYMk-9pCgw5gO91c6Q1hE40h6ygRngN2P-GKwOQ9CnBLF9hwK-ZCXgtAbDg/s4032/2023-12-17%2019.48.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDemZUdQY5As4U6bXU2U4rEclbCpbzh2z5G2OByaZkAsyy8lnBNbIB9LUGCHeIJh91oTc0gX-xdNVu6eIyNNQp_tc-YgPbZikPoJGEil_TXij_n-5RGepXK3KiS7PXtYcCXYMk-9pCgw5gO91c6Q1hE40h6ygRngN2P-GKwOQ9CnBLF9hwK-ZCXgtAbDg/w640-h480/2023-12-17%2019.48.08.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>It's up to bed for the NYT crossword and reading. Since I just finished a book the night before I need something new...or better yet an old favorite to reread. I scan my bookshelves and pick out <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rainbow_and_the_Rose" target="_blank">The Rainbow and The Rose</a> which is another Nevil Shute novel. I'd forgotten most of the story so it's almost entirely a new book.<br /></p><p>For whatever reason sleep is a disaster and sleep meditations don't help...so yeech. But that's a story for the next time we talk.</p><p><b>What Have We Learned Here</b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>It takes me an abnormally long time to drink a cup of coffee. <br /></li><li>Like I said, I've tried and failed to write day in the life posts before, so I was surprised that I was able to get into a groove and do a whole week - I'm a slow writer so I did need the "head start" of holding back Monday's post until Wednesday. It cut into my TV watching time but what are you going to do. </li><li>I think I'd like to make this an annual thing. Next year what will be the same and what will be different? </li><li>Oddly I feel better about my mundane life==><b>that's why I'd recommend trying this out.</b> Also December is kind of a "heavy" month emotionally so it helped to have this project.<b><br /></b></li><li>My job doesn't sound so awful written out from day to
day but the core of what bugs me is here. The morning pileups caused by
the time difference that leave my head foggy. The manual work. The
lack of a need for cognitive function on the job. The <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2023/08/life-updates.html" target="_blank">crappy stuff that my company has done to employees in the past</a>...yes
all of these things could be worse and there's the offset of a nice paycheck, not always
having to work very hard, and freedom of time for large chunks of the
day. It's a good enough job for right now but I can't wait until the day when I have satisfying work again or NO WORK. <b><br /></b></li><li>Selfishly I love reading day in the life posts and week in life even more so I'm thrilled that Kim is picking up the baton. I'm not telling anyone else what to do but I'll just say that if I see that title pop up in my Feedly I'm going to rush to click it.</li><li>It's kind of <a href="https://theinbetweenismine.com/2023/11/01/1-nablopomo-2023/" target="_blank">NaBloPo</a> lite project.</li></ul><p><b><i>Thanks for hanging out everyone!</i></b> <br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-88276574980797746252023-12-18T11:31:00.001-05:002023-12-18T11:31:05.922-05:00Week in the Life: Saturday December 16<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW4FLckKz8ER3NRGE8bqIR_MJFHVwwJRh2yCleSnCIr1k8c9ut_P90iIl9ts8j7EUlqM_QDBzxVms2kC1kDBI9_f3q3dzslGTdsXospdQ2E2HasCmcfCxqKiFYyshZBkQ0DTIZHSQEH06kj1RzZx9cLTSWewj4RSuPOdvjrpUunOfoWpwM7uVcvT_-5c/s4032/2023-12-16%2010.31.42.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW4FLckKz8ER3NRGE8bqIR_MJFHVwwJRh2yCleSnCIr1k8c9ut_P90iIl9ts8j7EUlqM_QDBzxVms2kC1kDBI9_f3q3dzslGTdsXospdQ2E2HasCmcfCxqKiFYyshZBkQ0DTIZHSQEH06kj1RzZx9cLTSWewj4RSuPOdvjrpUunOfoWpwM7uVcvT_-5c/w640-h480/2023-12-16%2010.31.42.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Hey friends, we're doing a one week experiment where we hang out each
day and I'll tell you everything that's going on in my life (inspired by
Stephany's <a href="https://stephanywrites.com/week-in-the-life-monday-november-6th/" target="_blank">Week in the Life</a> series). Happy Saturday everyone!!!<p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>I sleep in until close to 8. The Hubs looks zonked out and I'm guessing that since he was out late last night this will be one of the rare weekend mornings that he sleeps past 8. I tiptoe downstairs and brew up a big cup of coffee. We ran the dishwasher last night so Thug Wife is available for Mug du Jour duty. I hit Wordle and the Spelling Bee and then hop on the internets to read blogs.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1chwh4QuklSJT7g2if92bbDis_tLm3-dHcjvM6ELruRZX5FHIbsd8icI_xphAbZzBNrcj9IDA_qv4uWgEwKzX6GWs6lDEq2JKBmlEfG4g5mWvqXYya85MQLHwIvsfnXsWGo_enVaogVTeeophW9aseJVGWNdIuGdIa4P3Px1T9Hl6v_l4jJJWmYE-2s/s2208/2023-12-16%2008.08.25.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="1242" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1chwh4QuklSJT7g2if92bbDis_tLm3-dHcjvM6ELruRZX5FHIbsd8icI_xphAbZzBNrcj9IDA_qv4uWgEwKzX6GWs6lDEq2JKBmlEfG4g5mWvqXYya85MQLHwIvsfnXsWGo_enVaogVTeeophW9aseJVGWNdIuGdIa4P3Px1T9Hl6v_l4jJJWmYE-2s/w360-h640/2023-12-16%2008.08.25.png" width="360" /></a></div>Hubs gets up around 8:30 and has breakfast. He's been in a good groove with fitness lately and says he's thinking about running a 5k. He mentions the 5k that's held in our town on Christmas Eve, but he's hesitating because it's on a holiday and early in the morning. I tell him that it's a good thing that he asked because our town's <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2019/12/weekly-sweats-twas-night-before-five.html" target="_blank">Christmas Eve race is not 5k it's 5 MILES</a>. I steer him toward a New Year's Eve race that's 5k and in the afternoon.<p></p><p>He asks if I'm running 5k and I tell him what's been on my mind this morning...no I'm not running 5k and thanks for asking I'm really not running at all. Well lately I've been doing a few 2 mile runs but the last few were very tedious and so far this week I've run a grand total of 6 minutes which was yesterday. It would be fun to do the 5k but I can't see getting there in the next 2 weeks. If he registers I might do it tho, TBD.<br /></p><p>Anyway I have a good brood that I'm not satisfied with my fitness life at all. I'm continuously torn between focusing on strength or focusing on cardio and serving neither of the masters well. The only thing that I know for sure is that I'm not going back to running all the miles like I was back in my half marathon days. Should I go back to doing strength 5 times a week and just stick with 20 minutes of cardio afterwards or [gasp] maybe NO MINUTES OF CARDIO AFTERWARDS??? Actually that probably makes sense for the winter since it's too dark to run outside in the mornings and will soon be too icy. Then maybe I could do couch to 5k in the spring and see what running feels like then. Or maybe I'll stick with 3x week strength and start treadmill C25K in January which would keep me busy on the treadmill for the worst of winter. I spend a great deal of time thinking about this without arriving at a conclusion, which is the same outcome as always.<br /></p><p>I realize that I'm on track to spend this morning doing exactly what I did last morning which is sitting on the couch. My weekend fitness agenda is that I workout either on Saturday or Sunday, but not both. Saturday is ideal because then fitness is done for the weekend, but if I don't feel like working out on Saturday I defer to Sunday. This feels like a defer to Sunday kinda weekend. I'm starving but not hungry for anything in particular. I cycle through all of my breakfast possibilities and end up with my version of a Egg McMuffin. Two slices of bacon in the microwave, English Muffin in the toaster, one egg beaten and cooked up omelet style like this:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicChqCrLmbLtYT36IloooGKMSCMNxlkwEVBUg3t06tqYi35eUKDsHNj5QUNYqti9GDpWQBO1mvF3BbhsAqbrXgbDvPwe5alSmU0BoOszcerLeqmK9g5zR-ZgxnepmOBB2rBng8wwM44mS6k4V5ebEpkGPav_oIUeqvbkGLJVUxmgP-oIRV9keiI7zTLnY/s4032/2023-12-16%2010.28.13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicChqCrLmbLtYT36IloooGKMSCMNxlkwEVBUg3t06tqYi35eUKDsHNj5QUNYqti9GDpWQBO1mvF3BbhsAqbrXgbDvPwe5alSmU0BoOszcerLeqmK9g5zR-ZgxnepmOBB2rBng8wwM44mS6k4V5ebEpkGPav_oIUeqvbkGLJVUxmgP-oIRV9keiI7zTLnY/w640-h480/2023-12-16%2010.28.13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Then fold in the sizes to make a square:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit91Jg1JoRJKa4e-WgUUcigV5xSW5_tMqM62ILob2cQROCsNHBsfSYczEoDbNEksxGL3ZuRYiN37Vz6MPdh45vWiNDA1zFCoqRFCMchwHPFIjyJ6jNVxr8Db2CmW6jMX0tB4OSv92hkJ7o0ZJW2b5Ezt0t-1qwFon2Wut7g6yLQxinApMSKJDC1IStZr4/s4032/2023-12-16%2010.28.33.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit91Jg1JoRJKa4e-WgUUcigV5xSW5_tMqM62ILob2cQROCsNHBsfSYczEoDbNEksxGL3ZuRYiN37Vz6MPdh45vWiNDA1zFCoqRFCMchwHPFIjyJ6jNVxr8Db2CmW6jMX0tB4OSv92hkJ7o0ZJW2b5Ezt0t-1qwFon2Wut7g6yLQxinApMSKJDC1IStZr4/w640-h480/2023-12-16%2010.28.33.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I find no reason to leave the couch. Stepson #2 get up a little before noon and he and I and Hubs talk about our plans for the day. #2 wants to have his friends over that night, and since he has a tendency to get lost in homework and videos games Hubs and I are encouraging him to do things that involve other people so yay this is exactly what we want. We figure that we can go out to dinner early and get some snacks for his friends on the way back.</p><p>I continue to roost on the couch and around 1 I have lunch. I put together a nachos/taco salad thing from our leftover taco spread.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkk2I1GqoBJmVXRNod0K0iRV952TamWEeh03Tz0vXO6DZ-cp2Nbed0nwerJsCHoynck-QAUsfk0718TYRXGZhHRdlHfnzxHvJlZ28iQi8m3Rrt0oH-gxiUDO2kgk7UdTMn6jFwYlbfH9irTQYrekgF3nS8nJUssob9HyTIjPrjlBLbex2nL19P6VWj3M/s4032/2023-12-16%2013.25.29.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkk2I1GqoBJmVXRNod0K0iRV952TamWEeh03Tz0vXO6DZ-cp2Nbed0nwerJsCHoynck-QAUsfk0718TYRXGZhHRdlHfnzxHvJlZ28iQi8m3Rrt0oH-gxiUDO2kgk7UdTMn6jFwYlbfH9irTQYrekgF3nS8nJUssob9HyTIjPrjlBLbex2nL19P6VWj3M/w640-h480/2023-12-16%2013.25.29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I assess my life choices and decide that I need to do something anything physical. My legs are a little sore from yesterday's strength workout so I don't want to try to run. It's mid December but it's also mid 50s so I do my go-to "I don't feel like working out" workout which is a bike ride through the neighborhood. I realize once I've started that I haven't ridden my bike since September and I really shoulda put more air in the tires so the ride is harder and slower that it needs to be but hindsight is 20/20. I go to the other park in our neighborhood that's further away. I used to come here for running all the time but I hardly make it here now.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAOzMCcHSmdMD9BLG21nE_-0KSS-B4WxppB5epnETnYy51qL1Npq_vTeXiaRSVmBUhGu5pS9DURvtAZOnCYzeLTDDIbl8X7sRjcwNsacQ6AAB8X3MHfbQSalupVFNTx4n9xvqrzZeJAZ6AkjHu0zEXIF8WwlwfciYTYgoI_h4PnI9VNDzpiECNSaw-Mo/s4032/2023-12-16%2014.20.08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAOzMCcHSmdMD9BLG21nE_-0KSS-B4WxppB5epnETnYy51qL1Npq_vTeXiaRSVmBUhGu5pS9DURvtAZOnCYzeLTDDIbl8X7sRjcwNsacQ6AAB8X3MHfbQSalupVFNTx4n9xvqrzZeJAZ6AkjHu0zEXIF8WwlwfciYTYgoI_h4PnI9VNDzpiECNSaw-Mo/w640-h480/2023-12-16%2014.20.08.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br />I get back home and realize that yay I did something physical but now my legs are going to be even more sore so I need to walk it off. I go for a mile walk/podcast listen. Okay, the daily movement quota has been satisfied.</p><p>At 5:00 the fam heads out on the town. We wanted to do something special to celebrate #1 finishing the semester, so we go to our local Thai/sushi spot. Hubs is the only non-sushi eater in the family so he gets a stir fry. #1 gets two cooked sushi rolls plus rice on the side. #2 gets a cooked sushi roll and a side of fried rice. I get a rainbow roll. For some reason #1's two rolls are served on two plates but they put #2 and me together on the same plate which is fine because we're sitting next to each other. I guess they pegged #1 for the big tipper in our group.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wl7NIznLm3PUGlsDFMn_p6BxjYFGFM25DxtxOi9vnU8KeN-P_AmRFfLgP58u3Jpbgva3t5IAdg4fJdNBJYYNwSWDR7mGArXgmSUU9vqd-FiJV8RJFyf_ldHUwdOuXhBsPLEGG6UGtGqAyS-hppz81va-vFgKTBtPgo6thhwMFBmimgUgxN0BrSFU4us/s4032/2023-12-16%2017.33.02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wl7NIznLm3PUGlsDFMn_p6BxjYFGFM25DxtxOi9vnU8KeN-P_AmRFfLgP58u3Jpbgva3t5IAdg4fJdNBJYYNwSWDR7mGArXgmSUU9vqd-FiJV8RJFyf_ldHUwdOuXhBsPLEGG6UGtGqAyS-hppz81va-vFgKTBtPgo6thhwMFBmimgUgxN0BrSFU4us/w640-h480/2023-12-16%2017.33.02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Afterwards we go on a family grocery run to get a few necessities plus snacks for #2's big social night. I can't remember the last time all four of us went to the grocery store but it's fun, especially since one of the boys' friends is working there.<br /></p><p>We get back home and #2's friends come over in a bit. They head down to the basement for a game of D&D. We send them down with chips, cookies, and a six pack of Sprite and they are not seen again for the rest of the night.</p><p>Hubs and I start off our night alone by catching up on the Advent calendar. We didn't do it last night so we have two sections to do now.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCJ6WXS5YA0yHi1oCUe8fL50WOcYY6UIDZ4tvandfQXcTEmCrtI6LR0zL2dqEpc9TVyVxNAUy2EDYf3mPM78ohgvifrHzzM0gM2bbCRVemzikIC2V_BVh-pG1WM7UYyYArSGEYKyVfWBuMcQQfYF_xYgtFkO4YBiInDKPWh0TlcfsHyUswrL2IiSn2gA/s4032/2023-12-16%2019.41.36.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCJ6WXS5YA0yHi1oCUe8fL50WOcYY6UIDZ4tvandfQXcTEmCrtI6LR0zL2dqEpc9TVyVxNAUy2EDYf3mPM78ohgvifrHzzM0gM2bbCRVemzikIC2V_BVh-pG1WM7UYyYArSGEYKyVfWBuMcQQfYF_xYgtFkO4YBiInDKPWh0TlcfsHyUswrL2IiSn2gA/w640-h480/2023-12-16%2019.41.36.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Now it's movie time. The Hubs suggests <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095159/" target="_blank">A Fish Called Wanda</a>. I've never seen it but I've been thinking about it lately since I just read a book called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Town_Like_Alice" target="_blank">A Town Like Alice</a> - there's a similar cadence to the titles - A [animal/place] [named/similar to] [person's name].<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3xxdYfUvi9g" width="320" youtube-src-id="3xxdYfUvi9g"></iframe></div><br /><p>Hubs and I grab some brews and head for the couch. Zombie Dust is my current favorite.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHcRG5qmKXsWes4VGPVa0x8X8fDj3WQGHXv88lEVaMPI3kyn4ozxZd2Au_1cpq_dZ8dOPtMZz_H4ax2v9t9Smonsox9YFDsGR7zYrILcJoJwacq5_p3Ulns0G3VNmBN77QMVnLL-oB564eSSBvMJs8sMA8HH90tVBNq5r8SPcar9DRqHzbDTPrsuG1M4/s4032/2023-12-16%2019.44.57.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHcRG5qmKXsWes4VGPVa0x8X8fDj3WQGHXv88lEVaMPI3kyn4ozxZd2Au_1cpq_dZ8dOPtMZz_H4ax2v9t9Smonsox9YFDsGR7zYrILcJoJwacq5_p3Ulns0G3VNmBN77QMVnLL-oB564eSSBvMJs8sMA8HH90tVBNq5r8SPcar9DRqHzbDTPrsuG1M4/w640-h480/2023-12-16%2019.44.57.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I don't think I would have liked Wanda as much if I had watched it on my own, but as a companion piece to snuggling on the couch with the Hubs, it's a fine movie. Laughs are had. After the movie we watch an old <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_Out_of_10_Cats" target="_blank">8 Out of 10 Cats</a> Christmas Special on Youtube, which is one of our couples' TV go-to's. Hubs isn't ready for bed yet so I leave him with Youtube while I go upstairs. I shower and finish my book, and I save the NYT crossword for tomorrow since I'm drowsy. Hubs packs it in and we turn out the light. The next thing I know it's Sunday. But that's a story for tomorrow.<br /><p></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-51086012275771620092023-12-17T09:38:00.000-05:002023-12-17T09:38:25.693-05:00Week in the Life: Friday December 15<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfTWk0kwX7dZKR2UB1PaPRq8eNK_WkUr6nLZhdr42blbGs0FhkxacdKuNfWcCJjuv8fa87f52tyOsx1ojcz6wxRp3KvMl1BJUUn_4-kav_jzLksqwpiIK5EHTxFQUUxovdLggRTdvPRXQ5pAr6SEoQE8sCnnVyNHDUz5aaUN13qEo6loEfPihMk1URe4/s4032/2023-12-15%2008.07.15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfTWk0kwX7dZKR2UB1PaPRq8eNK_WkUr6nLZhdr42blbGs0FhkxacdKuNfWcCJjuv8fa87f52tyOsx1ojcz6wxRp3KvMl1BJUUn_4-kav_jzLksqwpiIK5EHTxFQUUxovdLggRTdvPRXQ5pAr6SEoQE8sCnnVyNHDUz5aaUN13qEo6loEfPihMk1URe4/w640-h480/2023-12-15%2008.07.15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Hey friends, we're doing a one week experiment where we hang out each
day and I'll tell you everything that's going on in my life (inspired by
Stephany's <a href="https://stephanywrites.com/week-in-the-life-monday-november-6th/" target="_blank">Week in the Life</a> series). TGIF!<p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>Friyay! Both Hubs and I are taking the day off work, so there is no alarm. On school days Hubs always gets up with Stepson #2 but this once he decides that #2 is 16 and has the ability to get himself out the door without an assist. Sure enough, #2 does what he needs to do.</p><p>On Fridays the rest of my team takes off a little early so unless something unusual is going on they're done by the time I start work. Normally I get up with the hubs, workout, chillax and start work at 9 like a civilized person. I'm clever about staying ahead of my workload so it's not accurate to say that I don't work on Fridays but it is accurate to say that I often don't work very hard on Fridays.<br /></p><p>Today on our day off I wake up around 6:30 and decide to stay in bed for a bit. I get up sometime after #2 leaves and head for the coffee maker. Here's the thing - I know that if I workout first thing that the workout will get done and I can play for the rest of the day. But I also know that today is a day off and it feels right to sit on the couch and drink coffee first. Speaking of the coffee, one of my rules is that I only drink one cup a day, but the size of the cup does vary. My "weekend size" is three scoops of beans instead of 2 and water just above the 4 line on the coffee maker. The Mug du Jour is Thug Wife. It was a wedding present to myself. I gave Hubs a Trophy Husband mug. He's a plain mug guy and never uses the matching "Hubby" mug or the Trophy Husband mug but he could if he wanted to. I look at work emails but nothing is on fire and I decide that there's nothing that I need to do for work today (yes I've taken today off as PTO but that doesn't always mean not working).<br /></p><p>Wordle is solid today:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYOj3wSg7B6I4ASmIeYY942NtROCw2ZZabmrZ-WhsywPqmcL-LJ0CjkO8eopQxR5RHblM6O-vusPFJf-45SjFNOy6AuC_L_wfy5-8SeVVypEhVcVDXW6ud5lWe6dPit1ElwVDI2eaZ8E82WHjCpTTt_LdqBQVgBb9q1H-iFV8d8XN5DriKxfyYNb2g-U/s2208/2023-12-15%2008.02.16.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="1242" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYOj3wSg7B6I4ASmIeYY942NtROCw2ZZabmrZ-WhsywPqmcL-LJ0CjkO8eopQxR5RHblM6O-vusPFJf-45SjFNOy6AuC_L_wfy5-8SeVVypEhVcVDXW6ud5lWe6dPit1ElwVDI2eaZ8E82WHjCpTTt_LdqBQVgBb9q1H-iFV8d8XN5DriKxfyYNb2g-U/w360-h640/2023-12-15%2008.02.16.png" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p>I hear footsteps upstairs and I don't need to look at my watch to know that it's 8. Hubs's internal clock always wakes him up at 8 on non-alarm clock days. It's pretty impressive. My natural waking time is sunrise, so I get up earlier in summer and later in winter but Hubs keeps a steady schedule that magically adjusts for daylight savings time.</p><p>Both Hubs and #1 come downstairs. #1 has him final exam of his first semester of college today. They have breakfast and I'm hungry too. I pop a Costco breakfast sandwich in the air fryer and settle back on the couch with my computer for...kind of a long time. Now I have to fight the momentum of sitting on the couch to start my workout.</p><p>I finally drag my butt downstairs just before 10. We all have our "why" for fitness and this morning my why is that my hair is greasy since I haven't washed it in 48 hours and it's driving me nuts. If I'm gonna take a shower anyway then I might as well sweat.<br /></p><p>Hubs works out at night on weekdays but mid morning on non-work days so today we're on the same schedule. He's running on the treadmill and I'm doing a strength workout so there's no conflict over gym space. We both put earphones on and he watches Youtube on the gym TV while he runs and I do my workout on my laptop.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n1G4uzmbnEo" width="320" youtube-src-id="n1G4uzmbnEo"></iframe></div><p>After my strength workout I take advantage of the daylight and go outside. The strength was glute and leg heavy so I know that running won't feel good. I settle for 20 minutes worth of one minute run-two minutes walk. There's just a little bit of stubborn snow clinging on but it's a sunny gorgeous day. The fourth sunny day in a row if anyone's keeping track and that's a rarity for this time of year.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbkcpYrlkxmjvxVQGI6M7JaG_vHEPX0tLUNe5kNpuMHPnUk0Lp9Jddfitee7jTPoOdTeBXAu4gmXKvUznZCGsPU-QqYxOrZ_o_-6dmnBXUjEWt3jILwDgCiI_tFzvfcHUxyUvRVeeFTprNtZ49fcTFAsxUrJTuT63pB05EYjzeV5OPuZpGGhIC1fH5UI/s4032/2023-12-15%2010.48.45.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbkcpYrlkxmjvxVQGI6M7JaG_vHEPX0tLUNe5kNpuMHPnUk0Lp9Jddfitee7jTPoOdTeBXAu4gmXKvUznZCGsPU-QqYxOrZ_o_-6dmnBXUjEWt3jILwDgCiI_tFzvfcHUxyUvRVeeFTprNtZ49fcTFAsxUrJTuT63pB05EYjzeV5OPuZpGGhIC1fH5UI/w640-h480/2023-12-15%2010.48.45.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I come back home and shower. It's almost noon so we have lunch. I've got just enough salad and dressing for one more round and I pair it with a Costco mini pizza and what's left of my coffee. I've learned quite a few things about myself in the process of writing these daily recaps and maybe the least-useful-but-not-surprising is that sometimes it takes me from 6AM to 11AM to drink a small cup of coffee on weekdays. So it's not a shocker that I still have half of a big cup of coffee left over at noon.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CMN8tntgGL4Hx5Ikeghwufddfy7glW2Lo4Z-LDB6TJ9a7sAKiOXnG2D0ueIFr7Ck5B-MQIYwQmr2o4i1ZJzUqO4Kj5uLz03kf_dsZ3kpYqcqAjXIM964JVmIRe3gl1xNMR1XGzS1Og37xUNrvbXHKPZW79EpW-T_qqFQt6eEiihuRVC7B9T6C0Z2HdU/s4032/2023-12-15%2011.56.47.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CMN8tntgGL4Hx5Ikeghwufddfy7glW2Lo4Z-LDB6TJ9a7sAKiOXnG2D0ueIFr7Ck5B-MQIYwQmr2o4i1ZJzUqO4Kj5uLz03kf_dsZ3kpYqcqAjXIM964JVmIRe3gl1xNMR1XGzS1Og37xUNrvbXHKPZW79EpW-T_qqFQt6eEiihuRVC7B9T6C0Z2HdU/w640-h480/2023-12-15%2011.56.47.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>After lunch there's still a little room in my belly so I grab a treat. Our neighbor brought over some Christmas cheer last night of a bottle of wine and some Lofthouse shortbread cookies. I'm surprised by how good they are.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jC0Zhg8SUatjlbfeYOhCtmyrpuI9gpd8FB9neDI26_FYXmr46Z-GgmVVmJ8S0FiJL3WUNIY7L_GAjwZz4cFDGBvlCFdOBbuX0aBeX7HHL-a0BuldJYEKFrAI3AwXVL9dPWbeoIlAOWli6jBSO3WP1-frPq4LKua28pEdtLnZM38lD36Pen0yE8ZsQ-I/s4032/2023-12-15%2012.03.16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jC0Zhg8SUatjlbfeYOhCtmyrpuI9gpd8FB9neDI26_FYXmr46Z-GgmVVmJ8S0FiJL3WUNIY7L_GAjwZz4cFDGBvlCFdOBbuX0aBeX7HHL-a0BuldJYEKFrAI3AwXVL9dPWbeoIlAOWli6jBSO3WP1-frPq4LKua28pEdtLnZM38lD36Pen0yE8ZsQ-I/w640-h480/2023-12-15%2012.03.16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I finally finish my coffee and now Hubs and I are off on an adventure. For the last year and a half I've been on a local tourism quest which resulted in me getting a deal on one of the Big City museum memberships. It's time for us to start reaping the benefits. <br /></p><p>We go to the museum which turns out to be smaller than we expected so we get through it fairly quickly. There's a planetarium show starting in an hour but nothing left for us to do in the museum. This is exactly why you need me at times like these because it just so happens that this museum is close to another epic museum and I have another local tourism pass that gets us in free there. We walk across the street to the other museum, get our geek on, and then come back to museum #1 for the planetarium show. We get to see stars and learn some fun facts about the upcoming April 2024 eclipse. I saw the 2017 eclipse which was very cool but I now learn that it wasn't a total eclipse where we live but April 2024 will be so it will be even better. We have until then to find the really cool eclipse viewing glasses that Hubs got back in 2017.<br /></p><p>The museum passes were $100 each and today alone we have gotten $50 worth of admissions out of them and the membership year is just starting. When I travel alone I do stuff that I want to do, when I go places with Hubs we do stuff that "we" want to do - some of his, some of mine, and when we go places as a family there are more inputs for "we". If I didn't travel alone we would never have gone to the second museum, and on my own I would never have gone to see the planetarium show - or if I had I would not have enjoyed it nearly as much. Stay tuned for what we do with our next two Fridays off when the boys are around.<br /></p><p>Our day in the Big City winds to a close and we head home. On tonight's agenda there is something that is almost as rare as a solar eclipse: Hubs is going out on a Man Date with his friends. He's a dad and they are dads so it almost never works out for them to see each other in person. Plan A was for him to have dinner with them and I was going to take the boys out to dinner but that's not looking like such a hot idea now. Hubs's friends can't get away until later than he wants to eat and the boys have a Boy Scout event tonight that starts kind of early as all Boy Scout events do. We pivot and decide to move our night on the town to tomorrow when there's no time pressure and to make tacos tonight because they're fast and fun. We stop at the grocery store on the way home for taco fixings. I should mention that we almost always have pizza on Fridays and I can't explain why we didn't just go with that, but hey sometimes ya gotta change it up.<br /></p><p>Tacos get fixed: <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNNJjz9CKR5fztBAaLcVCDeBS02EgV383LteHprC77kGnw6LIVYZLDE9vnJxgjna1s43VKl9g8vWM1rUy1iYWDH495mDLJh7SNFnIwxBt8YeKDcRhb2SC4bCkMhT-ZpVPO0rIee2DtKqXxL0cWSI2GVnmqsOWHdq87tn8L1Y2Im4pw__GR_PEQqPfOXk/s4032/2023-12-15%2017.05.20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNNJjz9CKR5fztBAaLcVCDeBS02EgV383LteHprC77kGnw6LIVYZLDE9vnJxgjna1s43VKl9g8vWM1rUy1iYWDH495mDLJh7SNFnIwxBt8YeKDcRhb2SC4bCkMhT-ZpVPO0rIee2DtKqXxL0cWSI2GVnmqsOWHdq87tn8L1Y2Im4pw__GR_PEQqPfOXk/w640-h480/2023-12-15%2017.05.20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>When I was a young 'un we always had hard corn shells for tacos and then I found the mecca of Taco Bell and learned about soft shell tortillas which are my preferred shell. However in the past few years I've gotten corn shells for family taco dinners for a family member with Celiac disease and it turns out that both Stepson #2 and I like them. Also since my childhood taco shell technology has advanced and hard shells now have flat bottoms so that they stand upright.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcO05jVKHP7fKmcBvte8cqrbRXczsCMqCnbHd2_A5IYGnnQtcalJ0B67HK0X6r6-qioU1DIS-EfS5LUSdy1nHrteJk0CZuL5-QuV60FJs98mCnVkO2fmGf71CKQbOIS2iUshNdBaGfM4D_T37zxW8M0jFXj5WIf9oGa9chxEdW5I0vF66e6wwHDH03q2g/s4032/2023-12-15%2017.07.31.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcO05jVKHP7fKmcBvte8cqrbRXczsCMqCnbHd2_A5IYGnnQtcalJ0B67HK0X6r6-qioU1DIS-EfS5LUSdy1nHrteJk0CZuL5-QuV60FJs98mCnVkO2fmGf71CKQbOIS2iUshNdBaGfM4D_T37zxW8M0jFXj5WIf9oGa9chxEdW5I0vF66e6wwHDH03q2g/w640-h480/2023-12-15%2017.07.31.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>After dinner I go for walkies, getting back just as the boys head out to Boy Scouts. Hubs leaves to meet his friends and I settle on the couch with TV and the bloggo. Normally I like a few drinky drinks on Friday but since I drank last night I'm not feeling it tonight. I have two of the Lofthouse shortbread cookies and find out that they're not nearly as good without coffee on the side. Hmmm...I want <i>something</i> but what? I don't want more food, I don't want another treat, I don't want booze....</p><p>I find myself wanting something that I have not wanted for years. Sometimes I drink black tea at night - yes I know that it has caffeine but my story is that "tea" caffeine doesn't hit like "coffee" caffeine. However I find myself wanting herbal tea which I can't even remember the last time that I had. The reason that it's on my radar is that Stepson #2 has started drinking tea. His mom gave him a sampler packet of Bigelow teas, and there are a few that he doesn't like. Of his rejects the orange spice feels like it has my name on it. Done! The mug was a present from our neighbors (guess where they're from???)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmij9HE6vRe7rjoCWlcv1mkjLCYUxjUzgjLyB2ljx6k3PlXDDGYK7W-Gjx0F_LQYfps1o39-yyXgU3LonfuO7MUpA0rIV9c5llQkLiYIkZ4VKaIyZmrcgQE5R6ZT79V6joOgPKclYRw7VvRzAnBGFDuTjiXrcrpNO8XkzURJuGRrN9NuqJ5npRO5d8BJM/s4032/2023-12-15%2020.14.06.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmij9HE6vRe7rjoCWlcv1mkjLCYUxjUzgjLyB2ljx6k3PlXDDGYK7W-Gjx0F_LQYfps1o39-yyXgU3LonfuO7MUpA0rIV9c5llQkLiYIkZ4VKaIyZmrcgQE5R6ZT79V6joOgPKclYRw7VvRzAnBGFDuTjiXrcrpNO8XkzURJuGRrN9NuqJ5npRO5d8BJM/w640-h480/2023-12-15%2020.14.06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I made cookie dough last night and I time it so that the <a href="https://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2013/08/soft-batch-chocolate-chip-cookies.html" target="_blank">cookies</a> will come out of the oven at about the time that I think the boys will get home. I nail the timing. The boys have cookies and disappear to their computers.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSE05EVjPbWuOhZazIM-pGdwJyjshAaMDe81wD3cyuX9bZj9VxD7fscege0duoFTaCag1LQoO5SkLTXNybH4TKRO8iKqgAhS9tEWLuA2s2jb7UpTyn6lGu20dimfJL6VtOrNnImSwr-iCy68nbnXnSpqL4Bj7JeXCV2wqUu58etFLv7Y2zyKIcIlo95tY/s4032/2023-12-15%2020.09.39.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSE05EVjPbWuOhZazIM-pGdwJyjshAaMDe81wD3cyuX9bZj9VxD7fscege0duoFTaCag1LQoO5SkLTXNybH4TKRO8iKqgAhS9tEWLuA2s2jb7UpTyn6lGu20dimfJL6VtOrNnImSwr-iCy68nbnXnSpqL4Bj7JeXCV2wqUu58etFLv7Y2zyKIcIlo95tY/w480-h640/2023-12-15%2020.09.39.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I have a confession: my family looooves chocolate chip cookies and I'm not saying that I don't like chocolate chip cookies but also...they're ordinary. If they were white chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, or something with coconut and nuts I'd be all over them, but a plain chocolate chip cookie doesn't speak to my soul. I'm not saying that I never eat them, but usually I don't bother.<br /></p><p>I finish blogging and watching random Youtube videos and it's 8:30. I can fit a movie in. I've been listening to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/12/06/my-fugitive-dad-podcast-interview-randele/" target="_blank">a podcast about a man who was working at a bank</a> in the late 60's and was obsessed with the movie <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063688/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_4_tt_5_nm_2_q_thomas%2520crown" target="_blank">The Thomas Crown Affair</a>, which is about a bank heist. The man walked out of the bank with $200,000 in a paper bag and was never heard from again until late in his life when he told his wife and daughter "oh yeah I changed my name before I met your mom and there are people still looking for me but don't google that".<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ahD-2U2t9w4" width="320" youtube-src-id="ahD-2U2t9w4"></iframe></div> <p></p><p>So Thomas Crown turns out to be...OK. It's a good looking movie but I'm less interested in fictional stories about millionaires who hire other people to rob banks for them than I am in the real life kid who was fascinated by this movie and decided to do it for himself. After about an hour I start getting bored so I pause it. TBD if I'll watch the rest.</p><p>I head upstairs, shower, do the NYT crossword, and reach for my book. Oh shoot I'm doing that thing where I do pushups on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and today is one of those days and it's 10:30...hey late is better than never. I alternate sets up pushups with chapters in my book. I haven't had a lot of reading time this week so I'm surprised to see that I'm almost at the end of A is for Alibi. I *could* finish it tonight but I'm sleepy. Hubs comes home around 11. He's had a good time on the town with his gang. We turn out the lights. The next thing I know it's 3:30 and...it's 3:30 and I'm not going back to sleep. I pop in the airpods and hit up a sleep meditation. I'm still awake afterwards but then the next thing I know it's Saturday. But that's a story for tomorrow.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-25029099122305228152023-12-16T10:06:00.000-05:002023-12-16T10:06:53.117-05:00Week in the Life: Thursday December 14<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sIqJo_lXfO-AkGv4BoYb8sFaoVxr-Gmz5QXCVGlMaehJEd1T1Smg_qPL0f93sKQQUYglhs9M-wU6k_GDW3DWnv29Ft4qS1tVE_K8IWZavjk_6uSmDWoM9xGvRMTYLv4s5YMhSHmyU8blVttkZBO0WfkJ0dfQQrhIh0pSzphumPuJE3dR4CFiE61C-pw/s4032/2023-12-14%2007.59.51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sIqJo_lXfO-AkGv4BoYb8sFaoVxr-Gmz5QXCVGlMaehJEd1T1Smg_qPL0f93sKQQUYglhs9M-wU6k_GDW3DWnv29Ft4qS1tVE_K8IWZavjk_6uSmDWoM9xGvRMTYLv4s5YMhSHmyU8blVttkZBO0WfkJ0dfQQrhIh0pSzphumPuJE3dR4CFiE61C-pw/w640-h480/2023-12-14%2007.59.51.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br />Hey friends, we're doing a one week experiment where we hang out each
day and I'll tell you everything that's going on in my life (inspired by
Stephany's <a href="https://stephanywrites.com/week-in-the-life-monday-november-6th/" target="_blank">Week in the Life</a> series). It's Thursday already???</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br /><p></p><p>I tell you what, I do not like how fast the days go by. On the one hand yay that the work week is almost over but boo that I will not get this time back. But anyway, Thursday is here again.</p><p>The Hubs and I wake up to his alarm at 6:30. We go downstairs and I brew up my coffee. BTW have I mentioned that my husband doesn't drink coffee??? It's the strangest thing. The Mug du Jour was a present from the Hubs for the 10th anniversary of the day we met. Pro tip, if your significant other is a finance type that makes their living from Excel, you should certainly get them a Freak in Sheets mug. Stepson #2 gets up at the last possible minute that he can to be ready for his 7AM pickup.<br /></p><p>I don't work out on Thursdays, so I settle on the couch in the back room and hit Wordle and the Spelling Bee.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-X8v7O7pkC7HjxmKZ8Vud4N-3G_38V7TsdayA14E5ZRPUq3bXBYKFu0HGnT7CFRybe_tnT3ntnvQjTEKCy-PcrgmwTEQmCSrNJ7718mme4rA32l11sEQaUisgFY5CuPnXgTbEAYq15xuCRQbwH1JDslonjJrPzRevl1f13f4BVIQ7MSdaxh5Ro5_LpM/s2208/2023-12-14%2006.52.52.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="1242" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-X8v7O7pkC7HjxmKZ8Vud4N-3G_38V7TsdayA14E5ZRPUq3bXBYKFu0HGnT7CFRybe_tnT3ntnvQjTEKCy-PcrgmwTEQmCSrNJ7718mme4rA32l11sEQaUisgFY5CuPnXgTbEAYq15xuCRQbwH1JDslonjJrPzRevl1f13f4BVIQ7MSdaxh5Ro5_LpM/w360-h640/2023-12-14%2006.52.52.png" width="360" /></a></div>Now it's time to air some dirty laundry. The Hubs and I lead largely separate laundry lives. He likes to live on the edge and do laundry whenever, and that is not how I roll. I do laundry on Thursdays like it's my religion. The taller hamper is for my regular clothes, and the Milk Crate of Shame is kept in the basement and it's where my dirty workout clothes go. I start the load for my regular clothes. In the summer I can fit it all into one load, not so in the winter.<br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKV1zeZLVPzLHfx2o1PqcTzIOVpNHW3oq4KRSVpxOlteCVABzu5mtC6YipZQUrOMqJa7mDTa13i91E7pJp41cbL2d4k2aF7D0N9LtPxfYRnyGJ9y91WFQOeALvUtIOHTaKjp2wehezlWwPdAHm9HRlOyC_5nsojdFMSGvXz_zidwvq3xt3amBEVTDSEE/s3725/2023-12-14%2007.30.21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3002" data-original-width="3725" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKV1zeZLVPzLHfx2o1PqcTzIOVpNHW3oq4KRSVpxOlteCVABzu5mtC6YipZQUrOMqJa7mDTa13i91E7pJp41cbL2d4k2aF7D0N9LtPxfYRnyGJ9y91WFQOeALvUtIOHTaKjp2wehezlWwPdAHm9HRlOyC_5nsojdFMSGvXz_zidwvq3xt3amBEVTDSEE/w640-h516/2023-12-14%2007.30.21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>On days when I don't work out I like to "commute" to work by taking the long way from the downstairs couch to my office. It's a frosty morning.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5-b6bKxuH8_IJuk5Ow3jEYG3ftqpCquSwlmOVJgm4qwKnVCAm0T_SmiB9D5umQX7Af17aWX8uc5ZXPQbVivALDhqMRZ0IAjoAM6YRnEf-dZEpe8NiN8S4Srd4zEimHkewXmVtkQYjoUaTEu7hxwWssMdk0CY-T-7IEpjXfgBTY6ftmIbOGZjuTsa3Po/s4032/2023-12-14%2007.40.36.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5-b6bKxuH8_IJuk5Ow3jEYG3ftqpCquSwlmOVJgm4qwKnVCAm0T_SmiB9D5umQX7Af17aWX8uc5ZXPQbVivALDhqMRZ0IAjoAM6YRnEf-dZEpe8NiN8S4Srd4zEimHkewXmVtkQYjoUaTEu7hxwWssMdk0CY-T-7IEpjXfgBTY6ftmIbOGZjuTsa3Po/w640-h480/2023-12-14%2007.40.36.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>When I get back I grab a light breakfast of a cereal bar, string cheese, and grapes and head upstairs.</p><p>Ugh, today is not playing nice. My boss's boss emailed an assignment to me with very vague instructions. I take my best shot and then email her a question. Her reply makes no sense. Rinse and repeat for the next <b>three hours</b>. In the end it was 15 minutes of work.</p><p>From there our international payroll providers have started to send us preliminary payroll reports. I get to download the reports and tie them out to our records, which is a fancy way of saying that I download a bunch of Excel files and type numbers into our Big Excel file. Sometimes I get lucky and the format is such that I can have Excel do it for me. In other cases I'm hand typing numbers. I look at the calendar to confirm that it is in fact 2023 and remind myself that in spite of what my boss says that this is not normal. When all is said and done 9 of our 18 providers have sent in their reports, which is much faster than it would be in any other month besides December. Lots of places shut down over the holidays and I am all for this. Stepson #1 comes in to see me and brings me up to date on how his finals are going. In one class he has a 99.5 average and his teacher just gave the class an extra credit assignment that will boost their grades by 1 percentage point. When #1 was in middle school he used to tell us that C's were fine because they were "average". Now he's on a quest to get the highest A possible because he can. He got higher than a 4.0 in high school because of AP classes and I think that he thinks that college is the same. I went to the same school for my undergrad and a 90 and a 100 are both an A - I wonder if he will settle for *just* getting a 90 percent when he finds out that it's the same as a 100.<br /></p><p>Hey lunchtime! I could have a salad and something but I go for the Gochujang and finish it off.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzk78MAD41mgq9GpAER3TTXN1h_tqmR1iQ_4b23cA01J28IzqAt9H7B_eGcnBNa6TnYJ-d86TB0V_xdS1u9KJP5BXk0E1tiTvzSIuG04DMVxMG0Y1h3cIlP5h33b72izgrlqsrVgCLULwaI5Ey0KU5UYTVfJfJfWOM3rLszqUpHdtjwANM75U8ORT94w/s4032/2023-12-14%2012.11.09.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzk78MAD41mgq9GpAER3TTXN1h_tqmR1iQ_4b23cA01J28IzqAt9H7B_eGcnBNa6TnYJ-d86TB0V_xdS1u9KJP5BXk0E1tiTvzSIuG04DMVxMG0Y1h3cIlP5h33b72izgrlqsrVgCLULwaI5Ey0KU5UYTVfJfJfWOM3rLszqUpHdtjwANM75U8ORT94w/w640-h480/2023-12-14%2012.11.09.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p> </p><p>Hey walkies! There's still a trace of snow on the ground and it's still chilly but the yellow ball is in the sky for a third straight day so I can't complain.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-qU2E1XXKuAEWog4JmY2NTRHFjRvvjygGYOhhEiuh7co2PJLB7jljat6m53uC1_zLujOOVCR2m9G0JzRFPqoOYabLO2PEqeSG3Y-J7FdiGg-UKLWDfhyphenhyphensuIzZD-uqEkJA-ZIMAikFYDWvHU0g83gNrPKxpNrk_QSgVk6s-hTnmYXOrEAFZ2BjzpQaEo/s4032/2023-12-14%2012.36.36.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-qU2E1XXKuAEWog4JmY2NTRHFjRvvjygGYOhhEiuh7co2PJLB7jljat6m53uC1_zLujOOVCR2m9G0JzRFPqoOYabLO2PEqeSG3Y-J7FdiGg-UKLWDfhyphenhyphensuIzZD-uqEkJA-ZIMAikFYDWvHU0g83gNrPKxpNrk_QSgVk6s-hTnmYXOrEAFZ2BjzpQaEo/w640-h480/2023-12-14%2012.36.36.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I return to work and get stuff squared away. On Thursday afternoons the company has "library hours" where you're not supposed to schedule meetings and work on professional development. Or as I like to call it:<br /></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxn3-Drg55TU0SGtNGYPfpMOPRGBr08G7lSh9e3JJH94yvvvvkCLPakdee8T5I7Eol0gyDJ1ZvD3iuDnT4jMsAI90S9_yKB55zIAifFEYokwfkztkHMFcyvYiZYjGKCL-vXf1AP2WqhtnE7D_VTi4XEhEQwQwi2V-xUjFd8uF29ajm-xaEVcrH6ptHBvk/s4032/2023-12-14%2014.27.16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxn3-Drg55TU0SGtNGYPfpMOPRGBr08G7lSh9e3JJH94yvvvvkCLPakdee8T5I7Eol0gyDJ1ZvD3iuDnT4jMsAI90S9_yKB55zIAifFEYokwfkztkHMFcyvYiZYjGKCL-vXf1AP2WqhtnE7D_VTi4XEhEQwQwi2V-xUjFd8uF29ajm-xaEVcrH6ptHBvk/w480-h640/2023-12-14%2014.27.16.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Now look I'm not able to pull off cleaning house on the company's dime <i>every</i> week but I get to do it this week. Back when I was in college my mom knew someone who always cleaned her house on Thursday night so that the house was at its cleanest on the weekends when they were home and also so they didn't have to spend their precious weekend time cleaning. This is simply the most genius thing I've ever heard and how I've lived my entire adult life. Thursdays are for cleaning so that you can lie around like a slug in your pristine house on the weekends.<br /></p><p>I vacuum the upstairs - specifically the stairs, the hallway, our bedroom, my office, and the bathrooms. The kids are in charge of cleaning their own rooms and Hubs is in charge of cleaning his office when and/or if they want to and my position is that it's none of my business. Then I tackle the two upstairs bathrooms while I reminisce about my single days when I lived first in a one bedroom apartment and later in a 1,100 sq ft house with one bathroom. Now I live in a 2,400 sq ft house with three bathrooms.<br /></p><p>The division of labor that we have is that the Hubs takes care of all
yard work and maintenance things, and I take care of cleaning, most of
the grocery shopping, and a lot of the cooking. I have a steady
workload and his is more unpredictable. While I do have beef with the
amount of effort that I put into cleaning a house that never seems to be
clean, the fact is that I've mowed exactly once in all of our time
together and have never touched a snow shovel since I sold my single
girl house.</p><p>Very often I take a break between cleaning the upstairs and the downstairs but today no one is bugging me at work so I keep going and the house is clean and it will stay that way for the next five minutes. I put all of our towels and my cleaning cloths in the laundry and let 'em rip.</p><p>Then I go back to work and get the rest of the stuff that I need to do done. I forgot to mention it before but it turns out that my dear husband, Mr. "I have no PTO" does in fact have 3 days of PTO that he needs to use by the end of the year so he is taking the final 3 Fridays of 2023 off from work. I'm going to support him by dipping into my bank of "flexible PTO" - that's a fancy way of saying that as long as I get my work done I can take as much vacation as I want. "Flexible PTO" also means that I'll check my email tomorrow and will most likely put in an hour of work but ya know, that's what flexible means.</p><p>Dinner time! The fellas make chicken quesadillas out of our stash of "burrito chicken" in the freezer - a <a href="https://hungerthirstplay.com/instant-pot-chipotle-chicken-copycat-recipe/" target="_blank">very loose riff of this recipe</a>. I grab a veggie burrito out of the freezer and top it with Monterrey Jack cheese, Pace Hot Chunky Salsa, Tapito hot sauce, and sour cream. And hey-o we're not working tomorrow and we have a bottle of Jose Cuervo margaritas in the fridge so don't mind if I do.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBBFdvT7_HFwgTTC4HwVIlm432xaL68YDsW9M5rwJdO3oJsUwnhj9k57awaFNxilOBkRlvXwWWKD8x6vFEuzpKbGs27I2PMVXbZO-WPt9QHXfjuU9yIIH0BBVnQaYXDjoIPWPqGTcKxYuOJBwkdWoy9Hx0LpNs6ENyOAvFiIfWt0G1mIk51LbkryYKSE/s4032/2023-12-14%2017.53.27.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBBFdvT7_HFwgTTC4HwVIlm432xaL68YDsW9M5rwJdO3oJsUwnhj9k57awaFNxilOBkRlvXwWWKD8x6vFEuzpKbGs27I2PMVXbZO-WPt9QHXfjuU9yIIH0BBVnQaYXDjoIPWPqGTcKxYuOJBwkdWoy9Hx0LpNs6ENyOAvFiIfWt0G1mIk51LbkryYKSE/w640-h480/2023-12-14%2017.53.27.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Afterwards hubs and I take our dogwalk-without-a-dog. He has had a DAY at work. Long time readers of the bloggo may remember that I have had a few years of DAYS at work, to the extent that I quit my job back in August. I expected them to <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2023/08/operation-endgame-werk-update.html" target="_blank">show me the door but instead they showed me the money</a> (DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME, THE MOST LIKELY OUTCOME IS THAT YOU WILL GET SHOWN THE DOOR). My job is in a holding pattern where I mostly do what I'm supposed to do but I don't stress myself over the stupid stuff and keep collecting my paychecks with a tentative plan to quit in a few years (specifically July 2025) if I can't find a job that I like better in that time. Anyway, my job has been pretty decent since my boss got back from maternity leave a few months ago and his has been rough for the past month or so. The role reversal does not make me happy.</p><p>We're back home. He works out, I refill my margarita and hunker down on the couch with the TV and write the bloggo. I've got my eye on the weekend so I mix up some <a href="https://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2013/08/soft-batch-chocolate-chip-cookies.html" target="_blank">chocolate chip cookie dough</a>. It's just a little better if I make it the night before and let the dough sit in the fridge all day so that it can think about how good it will taste.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L52tqStSSvR6OVQVb63VLJcDJLdxX17Nnw9ToCDF7BzXf4eRJICwAAKvrcv4cuE7YxdvibiwThuP8elGp_LThUj1_V1WHIpyIKXrsbHVEk5xs15a_suBUwudoGaT7bmDG4g5RvRgq8IEYqUJGesMn1kjicqrKUxvmBxMNfe5JkH5kxY_4AYGmEf_Qo0/s4032/2023-12-14%2020.58.40.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L52tqStSSvR6OVQVb63VLJcDJLdxX17Nnw9ToCDF7BzXf4eRJICwAAKvrcv4cuE7YxdvibiwThuP8elGp_LThUj1_V1WHIpyIKXrsbHVEk5xs15a_suBUwudoGaT7bmDG4g5RvRgq8IEYqUJGesMn1kjicqrKUxvmBxMNfe5JkH5kxY_4AYGmEf_Qo0/w640-h480/2023-12-14%2020.58.40.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Hubs and I do the Puzzle du Jour.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1E01D37YfJNa0YMphMTJKDZe25q2I4OFIjNydazLNwX5sFBX72-pz61VuoYj6LO_MS8sBM3WNCeqe6KPxZz-Dj9IKHVP9sqyZO5F5xG127nDIaRWBXVnWhgu59wDL6SIcNYgnXKxRVwcjvMzQLRCNC5hKwh-oxEznYPDj2OYftQT81vJjm530y6GrjU/s4032/2023-12-14%2021.44.52.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1E01D37YfJNa0YMphMTJKDZe25q2I4OFIjNydazLNwX5sFBX72-pz61VuoYj6LO_MS8sBM3WNCeqe6KPxZz-Dj9IKHVP9sqyZO5F5xG127nDIaRWBXVnWhgu59wDL6SIcNYgnXKxRVwcjvMzQLRCNC5hKwh-oxEznYPDj2OYftQT81vJjm530y6GrjU/w640-h480/2023-12-14%2021.44.52.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I fold the last load of laundry and head upstairs for the usual shower/reading/crossword puzzle. Hubs joins me and we turn out the light around 10:30. The next thing I know it's Friday. But that's a story for tomorrow.<br /><p><br /> </p><p></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-85572652329499966852023-12-15T08:55:00.000-05:002023-12-15T08:55:32.113-05:00Week in the Life: Wednesday December 13<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJflPTGZSAFv_U4n_UemNspmNx94hSoJoHyZ9AfpZQxP0S-2eBFj_R9BqAdHVVqBhY49JMsh_IRPytWRauon-_qpaTu4wuOyFFgW7Lkpezv72PF7O75RAf_31l6ZNxTAo0b9qOw1YaHpAWtdm38I92ls5zBi2pKcV4YA3yl5tENudqX6DXKsJ8KpINIQk/s4032/2023-12-13%2008.05.47.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJflPTGZSAFv_U4n_UemNspmNx94hSoJoHyZ9AfpZQxP0S-2eBFj_R9BqAdHVVqBhY49JMsh_IRPytWRauon-_qpaTu4wuOyFFgW7Lkpezv72PF7O75RAf_31l6ZNxTAo0b9qOw1YaHpAWtdm38I92ls5zBi2pKcV4YA3yl5tENudqX6DXKsJ8KpINIQk/w640-h480/2023-12-13%2008.05.47.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Hey friends, we're doing a one week experiment where we hang out each
day and I'll tell you everything that's going on in my life (inspired by
Stephany's <a href="https://stephanywrites.com/week-in-the-life-monday-november-6th/" target="_blank">Week in the Life</a> series). Happy Wednesday!<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>Hey Hump Day🐫🐫🐫 It's the last "get up super early" day of the week. My sleep was a bit choppy last night, but I feel refreshed enough and wake up before my alarm. I tiptoe downstairs and fire up the coffee maker. I get into workout clothes and pour a nice steaming hot cup of coffee with a splash of half and half in the Mug Du Jour of famous opening lines from books.</p><p>The next order of business is the workout that I would have done on Monday if not for having a sore arm from my COVID shot.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZZcUnu121hs" width="320" youtube-src-id="ZZcUnu121hs"></iframe></div><br /><p>This is a good one and I'm glad that I waited until today to do it when my arm is back to normal.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtBArsyBgE5c8el8EzVRUKb3Cd18ADa-cYAcTgiJ7BYLd4LchWM1PYIviqNN769hdNFdvIOvPvCF5Zq1gOHEFVZ_EQZahfWjHNQYY1DwBE7y5xYvmpTfmrgmsxZMRdeP9dIbOvuyWQKPXudDSaOxTEhHo5N0iNUX72AW5jDcMnnJZugElfSHmEQsGRYs/s4032/2023-12-13%2006.28.32.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtBArsyBgE5c8el8EzVRUKb3Cd18ADa-cYAcTgiJ7BYLd4LchWM1PYIviqNN769hdNFdvIOvPvCF5Zq1gOHEFVZ_EQZahfWjHNQYY1DwBE7y5xYvmpTfmrgmsxZMRdeP9dIbOvuyWQKPXudDSaOxTEhHo5N0iNUX72AW5jDcMnnJZugElfSHmEQsGRYs/w640-h480/2023-12-13%2006.28.32.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Afterwards I hop on the treadmill for 20, do the shower thing, do the Reheating of the Coffee thing, and hit Wordle and the Spelling Bee. I'm firing all on cylinders today.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuNw_fP91TUzWPejM1ux1I6rP5DhCHIoVOwj4oo3pOYrH_IZfIB7KghgVOYTOO67Dr9lBPiPD1_jXmQVD_ELxmRsAXbwvK9-DuUFbBm1aD1GTVqnpFtxwmFNbj122hln5wDtuVaL6PyuOPl8pDTVbBm8X_XDxJEidkLhJSrj4GDuaSOp_DE_jFWQzb-w/s2208/2023-12-13%2007.35.28.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="1242" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuNw_fP91TUzWPejM1ux1I6rP5DhCHIoVOwj4oo3pOYrH_IZfIB7KghgVOYTOO67Dr9lBPiPD1_jXmQVD_ELxmRsAXbwvK9-DuUFbBm1aD1GTVqnpFtxwmFNbj122hln5wDtuVaL6PyuOPl8pDTVbBm8X_XDxJEidkLhJSrj4GDuaSOp_DE_jFWQzb-w/w360-h640/2023-12-13%2007.35.28.png" width="360" /></a></div><p>Sigh the clock is creeping closer to 8, why does it do that. I fire up the work computer and what in God's name has happened today that my inbox has that many emails in it. Uh, I want breakfast. But not too much breakfast...ooh I have one <a href="https://thecheaplazyvegan.com/eggless-breakfast-burrito/" target="_blank">tofu breakfast burrito</a> in the freezer and today is the day for it. OK, let's tackle the inbox. Um let's not. Ok phew most of the emails are answers to the tons of questions that we had about all of the stuff that we've given to employees that needs to get taxed and oh goodie my boss has already extracted most of the information. My boss's boss has taken issue with an email that I sent them that says that mileage reimbursements for business purposes are not taxable to employees in the US. She tells me that she heard that these should be taxed. I roll my eyes, google that, and send her a screenshot. This is an example of why my company felt that they needed a payroll person in the US and I get paid the big bucks and also an example of why I do not find the job challenging. The mileage reimbursement that is set up in our expense system is 58.5 cents a mile and the current IRS allowed rate is 65.5 cents a mile and I'm continuously amazed that none of our employees have ever said anything. If just one person besides me would speak up the company would change it and as it is I have no reason to speak up since I don't travel for work and it doesn't affect me personally. Seriously folks if you see something weird money wise at work say something!<br /></p><p>My boss in the process of reviewing the rest of world payroll - what that means is in accounting anytime that you're handling something that's a big deal like people's pay you never have just one person looking at the numbers. She and I both have access to the info, and I've complied it into the massive Excel file that we like to pretend is a payroll system. The review means that she's taking her info and seeing if it matches mine. My goal is to get it right so that there's nothing for her to find. Because this payroll has so many moving parts that does not happen. There's a nice laundry list of stuff that doesn't stand up to her review so we chat about it. We both come out of the experience looking good. She had some information that wasn't passed on to me, and in a few cases where the info was sent to us multiple times I was able to keep track of the emails and had the correct version of the email. Go us!</p><p>We're doing a lot of back and forth. At those times when the ball is in her court it's semi-slack time for me. I have enough freedom to be on my personal laptop but not enough to leave my desk. Some blog reading gets done during this time. During longer breaks there are walks downstairs for Reheatings of the Coffee. Finally she and I are in agreement that we have the right numbers.</p><p>Chore #1: I calculate how much the payroll is going to cost, which also involves a preliminary run of the US payroll for the end of the month. We have a worksheet for that and I poke the numbers to make sure that everything seems solid.</p><p>Chore #2: I need to send the payroll out to all of the payroll providers. We have one for each of the 18 countries. We have decent sized employee bases in places like France and Germany, and a bunch of teeny tiny payrolls with just one or two employees elsewhere. What that means is that a lot of cutting and pasting is about to go down as I turn our big file into an Excel sheet for each country. It's not wildly exciting work. When that's done the files go onto a secure data transfer site and off to the payroll providers.</p><p>I finish chore #1 before lunch. I get dressed in my standard jeans and a long sleeved top. It's one of my everyday tops but you might notice that it's just a bit nicer than the top that I wore yesterday. This is your first foreshadowing that today is not quite like every other work day.<br /></p><p>Lunch! The hubs is hard at it in a meeting so it's a solo lunch. More gochujang noodles go down.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFNNzDtgtmVrbmhX3uNvFjTMs9JyGFqGPtE6tyF685LGotwbX2MjsiUDCs3X00CiL3cj348TrvO9fi4o_rgHL6D9oD8BwulY7WUfv3UtgaQUL4pQIWXFtlH_XJoR2AEqWuT1x-2DUMHcnN9DPqk6o_lF9OVKhEa2OmZfoPhle_J-2Bqwfmc_5hURoi4k/s4032/2023-12-13%2012.02.30.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFNNzDtgtmVrbmhX3uNvFjTMs9JyGFqGPtE6tyF685LGotwbX2MjsiUDCs3X00CiL3cj348TrvO9fi4o_rgHL6D9oD8BwulY7WUfv3UtgaQUL4pQIWXFtlH_XJoR2AEqWuT1x-2DUMHcnN9DPqk6o_lF9OVKhEa2OmZfoPhle_J-2Bqwfmc_5hURoi4k/w640-h480/2023-12-13%2012.02.30.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Walkies! It feels colder than yesterday but most of the snow has melted and the big yellow ball in the sky is really bright today.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cxX1a7Kv0hyphenhyphenXv4UXVJAz6pHbnLVoZqHDWXMeorwU4rFYxfmdCqyFsk7pVmJS3oiUn4oIZecqP5MhCW40b__VBp2Han-EIDs8OSDk1qWViwJohANgQFsvvvfZHW463DiRlAEI1SYK_ngszb32dRwASJgRsMjtnGpa_cYHOA6iDJbD3JP3TfxLh25qY0Q/s4032/2023-12-13%2012.20.44.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cxX1a7Kv0hyphenhyphenXv4UXVJAz6pHbnLVoZqHDWXMeorwU4rFYxfmdCqyFsk7pVmJS3oiUn4oIZecqP5MhCW40b__VBp2Han-EIDs8OSDk1qWViwJohANgQFsvvvfZHW463DiRlAEI1SYK_ngszb32dRwASJgRsMjtnGpa_cYHOA6iDJbD3JP3TfxLh25qY0Q/w480-h640/2023-12-13%2012.20.44.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Back home and I snag a treat on the way back to my office.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYCNsaSsfNHrHMxOXxRHLqBOpKb2hU8Jb6AG43LHayIHgA1pCbk-QiXF75SDxOQoNwOqMU0hv3d_toZbrVXhvRrsheO9bW3DJSIcMeJ6KrWGig0tToVwvcHTM6lK6ElMEebn_JjTVofmMWVunzNmAhq2wQ11xf6bt01nOrBIKjEyKVvJiWUESzVyLeAo/s4032/2023-12-11%2012.23.21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYCNsaSsfNHrHMxOXxRHLqBOpKb2hU8Jb6AG43LHayIHgA1pCbk-QiXF75SDxOQoNwOqMU0hv3d_toZbrVXhvRrsheO9bW3DJSIcMeJ6KrWGig0tToVwvcHTM6lK6ElMEebn_JjTVofmMWVunzNmAhq2wQ11xf6bt01nOrBIKjEyKVvJiWUESzVyLeAo/w640-h480/2023-12-11%2012.23.21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Here's where I would like to take a break but I keep on task and tackle chore #2 for another hour. I'm almost done when I take a break to curl my hair. Okay, whatever you say, you did that yesterday and so far there's nothing to see here. But wait, now I'm putting make up on. Nothing elaborate, just foundation and blush, which used to be an everyday thing before the pandemic. Now it's a pretty rare thing so what am I up to that I'm suddenly busting out makeup in the middle of the afternoon?<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgV1-grcJ3imRAMSooA9PW0mMj8vZpg_lqD1IvJ9cJawWud4IM3CAaKR6s3zLpZRHN6CHMBb_bf4CV_oHhonFonU3ocgCViqmBysnfDtLPaQM-_ZpeZ6e5dG_ZIk4WJX8kjM4elrpLBPmX_FmfA5KVYal8PpNVpZ8KEiqT-EPPrGv63_K5UPTi5c0kog/s4023/2023-12-13%2014.09.18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4023" data-original-width="2855" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgV1-grcJ3imRAMSooA9PW0mMj8vZpg_lqD1IvJ9cJawWud4IM3CAaKR6s3zLpZRHN6CHMBb_bf4CV_oHhonFonU3ocgCViqmBysnfDtLPaQM-_ZpeZ6e5dG_ZIk4WJX8kjM4elrpLBPmX_FmfA5KVYal8PpNVpZ8KEiqT-EPPrGv63_K5UPTi5c0kog/w454-h640/2023-12-13%2014.09.18.jpg" width="454" /></a></div><p></p><p>After putting on my face I go back to my office and close the door. It's about 10 minutes before a meeting on my calendar. On my work calendar the subject line is "hold" and there's no other information. On my personal calendar the subject is "Company X Hiring Manager Screening". The shirt that I'm wearing is my designated "first interview shirt". I have a designated "second interview shirt" as well, and if there are more interviews than that with one company I wear something else and start making a list of my outfits so that I don't repeat.<br /></p><p>That's right, I've got myself a job interview! The tech world has really taken a beating this year and jobs are scarce but not non-existent. I don't remember the last time that I had an interview but it just so happens that I've got one now. I had a good conversation with the recruiter last week and today I have my first interview with the hiring manager.</p><p>I google the company to refresh my memory and look at the job description and the notes that I took when I talked to the recruiter. I look at the hiring manager's profile on LinkedIn. Part of the reason for this is just to find out more about her, and the other reason is a tip that I got from a recruiter a long time ago to always look at people's LinkedIn profiles before interviews so that they can see that you saw them. Everyone likes a profile view.<br /></p><p>I perch my phone on a nearby bookshelf and check that the angle is right and that nothing obnoxious is showing in the background. I put in my airpods and use the voice recorder to make sure that they're connected and that my voice is coming through clear. Good, good. Two minutes before the interview starts I log into the Zoom invite that they sent me so that I'll be on the call when the manager starts it. I also mute my work computer but forget to silence my phone and sure enough I do get a text during the interview but oh well.<br /></p><p>The interview is fine. There are no red flags and nothing that makes me not want the job. But also nothing that leaps out and says "oh God yes this is the job for me". The supervisor is fine - I like her but I don't love her. I can't tell what kind of an impression I'm making on her or if I'm saying what she wants to hear. She says she'll let the recruiter know by the end of this week or early next week who she wants to move forward with. I say that it's been great talking to her. And that's all there is to say about that for right now. By rights I should email the recruiter and tell her that it was such a great conversation yada yada but I just don't get around to it.<br /></p><p>Okey dokey back to work. I finish our one million Excel files and send them out. I really want to take an internets break but also it would be advantageous to get some extra work done. No one's looking for it but it's nice to have it up my sleeve. Uh can I do some of both? I give myself a short break to read blogs and then I hunker down. I switch over to accountant mode and do the journal entry for the US and Canada payrolls. This is nerdy accountant Excel work at its finest. Take a bunch of numbers and make them equal to another set of numbers. </p><p>So actually this is what I like about accounting. I'm really bad at math, and when I say that I mean that when I was 22 I took the GRE with no preparation and my math score was in the 20th percentile. When I was 36 and headed to grad school I took the GMAT and put some serious study effort into it...and my math score was in the 20th percentile. My scores on the other sections of the test pulled my score well above what was required for the Accounting Master's Program, but on their acceptance letter they said "dude what's up with that math score?" OK they didn't say it like that but they said something. Anyhoo what I like about accounting is that you can be TERRIBLE at math and it makes no difference. You just have to be able to see that two numbers aren't the same and then work at them to figure out why. It's kind of fun in a "I get paid for this" kind of way.<br /></p><p>Ooh actually there are a couple of things that are out of the ordinary that I need to ask my boss about so it's good that I started this today. I finish the Excel files based on what I have so that I'll only need to tweak a few things when I have her answers. I send out that email and a few other things that make it look like I've had my nose hard on the grindstone all day. I mean I've put in a decent enough day's work.<br /></p><p>Work computer off oh that's right I have a family. The boys are downstairs playing with the nerf gun and Hubs has been mostly tied up at work all day. Stepson #1 came in to see me when he got his final score for his math class. He missed one point just to see what it was like. At this point he just has one exam to go and he will be done with semester #1 of college.<br /></p><p>On Wednesdays the boys have dinner with their mom and Hubs and I have a mini date. He is obsessed with chicken parm, so I suggest that for dinner. I toss a breaded chicken patty from Costco into the air fryer - let me tell you that I have not hand breaded a chicken breast since we joined Costco because I can't make anything that's better than what they've got. I boil up some pasta and for myself I nuke up some Costco meatballs. I've got that salad mix from Trader Joe's that was bigger than I thought so I know I won't finish it for my lunches this week, so I serve it with dinner.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBARE_hDY6RxTJor9nEWMUvZytDc98QZnpdN80A4zx1LSKoAlVrXTqDjjWofFa5avmUZ1yuBiisMeuMMX3fg1clo7-CY4V74L4PS0wFCPM79pXqfy3eboj3TDfLkEooNjDGpfTYvLcd7ZSMmQUfitrZAR69-NkFxG46JQXsNZZjLwOUhB4HTcwB7ZGyI/s4032/2023-12-13%2017.32.50.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBARE_hDY6RxTJor9nEWMUvZytDc98QZnpdN80A4zx1LSKoAlVrXTqDjjWofFa5avmUZ1yuBiisMeuMMX3fg1clo7-CY4V74L4PS0wFCPM79pXqfy3eboj3TDfLkEooNjDGpfTYvLcd7ZSMmQUfitrZAR69-NkFxG46JQXsNZZjLwOUhB4HTcwB7ZGyI/w640-h480/2023-12-13%2017.32.50.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Afterwards we take our nightly dog-walk-without-the-dog. If I remember correctly, one of the stages of grief is anger, and I think that's where I am. For me "anger" is more of a snarky Airing of the Grievances about life without a dog. The latest things that have come up on my list are:<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I can get up in the middle of the night and put my feet on the floor and walk to the bathroom without having to worry about stepping on the dog (yes this is a grievance because it's boring)<br /></li><li>I have no incentive to not wear the same outfit everyday since we're not taking dog selfies anymore.</li><li>When I got the Parmesan out of the fridge for dinner no one was staring at me. My husband and I are madly in love but let me tell you that he has never looked at me like Stepdog looked at me when I had a bag of cheese in my hand.</li></ul><p>After we get back from our walk the boys have returned. Hubs hangs out with them in the front room but I Have Plans for tonight. I'm out on the town...to the grocery store. We're out of bananas and the house does not function when we are out of bananas (snack for the boys, required for my husband at breakfast). I live dangerously and take a basket instead of a cart. Woo hoo it's a $10 shopping trip!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsqbFUEWZy_Xfzdg069_8BFlM0jMPDA8nhvxC3tBcDE54mCtN_Po_yDVuDrPysVtC0TFEZN-WepNNSdxgSHKcSjYJxvODG0sMS2geoChqBfvCbdlOQAuVedrLMv2pwrh_Yl9et9yoQgUuq4anPLWGNFM_lV-VjC6dd3VrCjnKekmhcOVgKzgR51em_AE/s4032/2023-12-13%2018.23.03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsqbFUEWZy_Xfzdg069_8BFlM0jMPDA8nhvxC3tBcDE54mCtN_Po_yDVuDrPysVtC0TFEZN-WepNNSdxgSHKcSjYJxvODG0sMS2geoChqBfvCbdlOQAuVedrLMv2pwrh_Yl9et9yoQgUuq4anPLWGNFM_lV-VjC6dd3VrCjnKekmhcOVgKzgR51em_AE/w640-h480/2023-12-13%2018.23.03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I go back home and catch up with the fam. Hubs starts his workout. I want a lil' sumpin' sumpin'...hmm I think I have a lil' sumpin' sumpin' tucked away...confirmed! I'm not a huge dark chocolate fan but every once in a while I like the dark orange or the dark chili bars.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuEE481qVwHyWyOLnwraI0kldPrAg_KS1b7F5fq9eFpKkQxN-Ln7qJ8vLPPpdZTh4SV_LU0z2XsdY47g9TCFo-IauZiczSu_EcoM79CJyoSuF3Gi48snKLcTCHdPeZhmsfxCIZi0136MRlfrVHeUDiSGBEds-Db8pxHr6E15_ZDbvniC3_3MzwwTSUwY/s4032/2023-12-13%2018.37.17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuEE481qVwHyWyOLnwraI0kldPrAg_KS1b7F5fq9eFpKkQxN-Ln7qJ8vLPPpdZTh4SV_LU0z2XsdY47g9TCFo-IauZiczSu_EcoM79CJyoSuF3Gi48snKLcTCHdPeZhmsfxCIZi0136MRlfrVHeUDiSGBEds-Db8pxHr6E15_ZDbvniC3_3MzwwTSUwY/w480-h640/2023-12-13%2018.37.17.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>I've had enough of wearing "going outside" clothes so I change back into my "not bed" pajamas of leggings and a long sleeve. I nibble four squares of the chocolate bar in front of the TV and write the bloggo. Oh wait I'm doing this thing where I do pushups three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and today is one of those days and yes last thing at night would be the time to get 'er done. The first two sets feel like I'm phoning it in but on the last set I finally nail my form. I do a couple more "baby sets" to try and lock it in.<br /></p><p>After his workout hubs showers and comes down to play video games. Around 9 he takes a break for our daily puzzle dose.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJvRt8ZN0FLb5Ea-d0AMQinUWjuflbC0jWo1wIa9AYE6Zs1-rEoYa9NmL-Uw_4AMMU9THXqcHhCvSwZEP13vAZso6YkE1BYVYzZ-UTlGFMA0hHoqfyRF-vkTStCRgGi6WbyCBqKIi6HVc_7DnrG8GP0eHOBJi8VgC76-BgrvJTvcFCMjclrxLO9bFUw0/s4032/2023-12-13%2021.44.26.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJvRt8ZN0FLb5Ea-d0AMQinUWjuflbC0jWo1wIa9AYE6Zs1-rEoYa9NmL-Uw_4AMMU9THXqcHhCvSwZEP13vAZso6YkE1BYVYzZ-UTlGFMA0hHoqfyRF-vkTStCRgGi6WbyCBqKIi6HVc_7DnrG8GP0eHOBJi8VgC76-BgrvJTvcFCMjclrxLO9bFUw0/w640-h480/2023-12-13%2021.44.26.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I head upstairs for my shower and by the time I'm done hubs is upstairs as well. I read and do the NYT crossword and then we turn out the lights. I snuggle under the covers and think thoughts and the next thing I know it's Thursday. But that's a story for tomorrow.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-63784822674729660232023-12-14T10:23:00.000-05:002023-12-14T10:23:29.761-05:00Week in the Life: Tuesday December 12<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIB00z-5sJmGyM7yh5cEtM8AicH2Yrni8VQzFlTCQpPBgZ2CEivWtpdGxOINQ2CdJLjEnJbdlFAppqf3DbGtoZL-Kq57uwau028VV9_NKqspkSsNALksHTIdppsAMBw_dLXtae5e3cHoxgA_-mSQvj29h5buul3D9cmQX32NljDgYB25Su7HqVUEmEbYU/s4032/2023-12-12%2007.30.26.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIB00z-5sJmGyM7yh5cEtM8AicH2Yrni8VQzFlTCQpPBgZ2CEivWtpdGxOINQ2CdJLjEnJbdlFAppqf3DbGtoZL-Kq57uwau028VV9_NKqspkSsNALksHTIdppsAMBw_dLXtae5e3cHoxgA_-mSQvj29h5buul3D9cmQX32NljDgYB25Su7HqVUEmEbYU/w640-h480/2023-12-12%2007.30.26.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Hey friends, we're doing a one week experiment where we hang out each day and I'll tell you everything that's going on in my life (inspired by Stephany's <a href="https://stephanywrites.com/week-in-the-life-monday-november-6th/" target="_blank">Week in the Life</a> series). Happy Tuesday!<p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>On Tuesdays we sleep in until the luxurious hour of 6:30. Hubs and I go downstairs - he has breakfast and makes sure that Stepson #2 gets up and gets himself out the door, and I go straight to the basement and hit the treadmill. I feel good but not super fly so I just do a 20 minute power walk and watch Youtube videos. My arm is completely back to normal after Sunday's COVID shot. Stepson #2 is gone before I get back upstairs, so once again we miss each other in the morning. Stepson #1 has finals this week, but none today so he gets to sleep in.</p><p>After my workout I start the coffee maker and head for the shower. Then I come back downstairs and snuggle up with that sweet, sweet cup of coffee and Wordle. It's a much better day today. I start the Spelling Bee but it's not holding my interest so I abandon it and never look back.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1if3zDNyKI5NWr_-nOmpryrVscAeC9dwOLIAnHhbzdBonO_vwjRNOt_Zl0Gi5I8Nxnkms2Kl0V7YFOH6nU_JJwHBaOGNnzMyRwE-2zOfSRzdWtmdAom53QyQ43lvrtTyGg1tbZ8xa2fDejS3mXmBTshAS5tUq1coYYPnWkCv2kCwKXDIl5QHALy3QUI/s2208/2023-12-12%2007.35.32.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="1242" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1if3zDNyKI5NWr_-nOmpryrVscAeC9dwOLIAnHhbzdBonO_vwjRNOt_Zl0Gi5I8Nxnkms2Kl0V7YFOH6nU_JJwHBaOGNnzMyRwE-2zOfSRzdWtmdAom53QyQ43lvrtTyGg1tbZ8xa2fDejS3mXmBTshAS5tUq1coYYPnWkCv2kCwKXDIl5QHALy3QUI/w360-h640/2023-12-12%2007.35.32.png" width="360" /></a></div><p>I get hungry much sooner than yesterday and pop a Costco breakfast sandwich in the air fryer. Same as yesterday, I eat a handful of grapes while I'm waiting for it to finish. My Coffee Mug du Jour is the Shakespearean Insult Mug.</p><p>Oh hey it's 7:55 so it's time to go to work. I stop for a Reheating of the Coffee on the way. Let me show you my fabulous office setup.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHwzYlC2QznwWXFkCQeOAjuwTfp-2OwonNsM79YpkPP59ceKzftslpJNegw-o-DHtTps5OoaytTTmQo9X-wO19SbEdMzL2Db-Pm1ZcIXSlujM4oKQYrWa3pBXXwakrJYshFbrvz7D3aH4DV-Shj844CRE435-5u3k-_SvZMPAgEAj9JsXJHvY5su0iTM/s2893/office.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2875" data-original-width="2893" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHwzYlC2QznwWXFkCQeOAjuwTfp-2OwonNsM79YpkPP59ceKzftslpJNegw-o-DHtTps5OoaytTTmQo9X-wO19SbEdMzL2Db-Pm1ZcIXSlujM4oKQYrWa3pBXXwakrJYshFbrvz7D3aH4DV-Shj844CRE435-5u3k-_SvZMPAgEAj9JsXJHvY5su0iTM/w640-h636/office.png" width="640" /></a></div>When I say fabulous I mean comfortable and functional. The chair and the monitors are from my previous employer and were gifts back when they switched to permanently remote in 2021. My desk was less than $200 and it's adjustable so that I can stand on those rare occasions when I want to. My work laptop is perched up on a box for the dual purpose of being eye level/hopefully a more flattering angle for Zoom. My personal laptop is tucked away on the left. I don't feel that I need to explain why I have a Rubix cube on my desk because doesn't everybody? At one time I could solve it from memory but it's not an active skill right now. My mouse is on the left because guess what I'm left handed. I *can* use my right hand but I've stressed my wrist from doing too many right handed things so it's not comfortable. I've got a photo frame chock full of our fabulous adventures which I adore seeing throughout the day. The room has two windows so I've got good light on sunny days and off to the side I have <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2023/10/lets-go-places-leaf-peep-trip.html" target="_blank">my comfy chair that I recently acquired</a>. Overall it's a very pleasant place to spend the day.<p></p><p>Then I log in to work and my work space becomes instantly unpleasant because yeccccchhhh. One million emails and one million things that I need to do RIGHT NOW. My head gets scrambled and it takes a while to get out of the fog and get my bearings. Oops coffee is cold, let's go downstairs for a Reheating of the Coffee. Focus...focus...boss has questions so forget focusing. This is pretty normal for my work mornings. Recently I came across a productivity book that said that the key to success is to spend the first two hours of your work day getting prepared. Isn't that a great tip? Yes if only I would start work at midnight I could get fully organized before the rest of my team starts work on the other side of the globe.<br /></p><p>Eventually I work my way through the fog and get into a grove of productively doing the work thing while chatting with my team on Slack. I finish the US payroll before the deadline and switch over to ROW (rest of world). So much stuff to go through...so many Excel files to make into one file. It's actually something that I like doing so don't cry for me. I want to take a break to kick back and read blogs but it's not in the cards right now. There are more Reheatings of the Coffee which I finally finish around 11.<br /></p><p>11:30 feels like the right time to get dressed and I'm feeling fancy so I invest in a 10 minute session with the curling iron.</p><p>Oh hey lunchtime! I kind of want to have the Gochujang noodles again BUT Weekend Me bought salad mix and I have some of my <a href="https://thecheaplazyvegan.com/bok-choy-caesar/" target="_blank">favorite salad dressing</a> on hand and those things have a time limit so it's a pasta and salad day. If you're thinking "oh it must be nice to work from home so that you can cook lunch every day" I have news for you. Yes it IS nice to work from home, but Murphy's law says that anytime that I decide to cook for lunch that will be the moment that my boss wants to have a call on Slack. I've learned the hard way never to do anything more technical than use the microwave for lunch. But I am very grateful to just be able to pull stuff out of the freezer instead of having to pull stuff out of the freezer and put it in a lunch bag so that I can take it to an office and put it in the office fridge and nuke it up in the office microwave.<br /></p><p>I just happen to have penne with marinara in freezer, and we always have a giant bag of Costco frozen meatballs on hand so I combine the two and add a little more marinara and top with parm. Salad mix comes out of the bag and gets tossed with dressing for a Two Plate Special.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjq9RqSJ1ppqdOzGDzFU7c88j27CczRNKnONLa0FIiHdmr2liykNWKFqVOkIoGV747sIrSigaHUeF3sNcCSsoFLJsnbRG-75RKp9wjLcGSg-AzPrFDDqUSq5GCsR-mi9CUixoBzh2jE1x_TJ3tHK8Uff3HfTt0aSwgqhlVs-htDov2gZ-RxR-pAJmjmvg/s4032/2023-12-12%2012.14.46.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjq9RqSJ1ppqdOzGDzFU7c88j27CczRNKnONLa0FIiHdmr2liykNWKFqVOkIoGV747sIrSigaHUeF3sNcCSsoFLJsnbRG-75RKp9wjLcGSg-AzPrFDDqUSq5GCsR-mi9CUixoBzh2jE1x_TJ3tHK8Uff3HfTt0aSwgqhlVs-htDov2gZ-RxR-pAJmjmvg/w640-h480/2023-12-12%2012.14.46.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Afterwards I go out for my lunch walk/podcast listen. It's a little cool but not too cold and there's a big yellow ball in the sky. Much improved over yesterday.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKXG1hLdwmQUBL96PAk-8ZvDk4Nlw23EDci4FHwVwqSW-jGLrmbM-2VpRylOSLVSP6B25Sm9QUZGtKq-byY4d4CCUDvy2LXzgtb8pYIGvE0Ybd9hH59UjlIIk8Sl6K6XSE41JekUAyJAnz65K9DdZqrZZZUYgyFxx65K-lKzrDSx3Sof_GhztDvAqLdE/s4032/2023-12-12%2012.36.06.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKXG1hLdwmQUBL96PAk-8ZvDk4Nlw23EDci4FHwVwqSW-jGLrmbM-2VpRylOSLVSP6B25Sm9QUZGtKq-byY4d4CCUDvy2LXzgtb8pYIGvE0Ybd9hH59UjlIIk8Sl6K6XSE41JekUAyJAnz65K9DdZqrZZZUYgyFxx65K-lKzrDSx3Sof_GhztDvAqLdE/w640-h480/2023-12-12%2012.36.06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>After lunch it seems like I've made enough of a dent in the day's work to take a break, so I kick back in my office comfy chair and read the bloggy blogs. I put in another work sesh. The most exciting thing is that the US payroll reports come back from our payroll provider so I get to check them out and make sure everyone's getting paid what they're supposed to be paid. OK fine it's just another exercise in Excel but it's a "feel good" exercise in Excel. Sure enough the numbers are what they are supposed to be so I approve the payroll. And that's the end of the fun stuff because the rest is boring. We're still on our quest to hunt down every non-payroll goodie given to every employee and make sure that we've taxed everything that needs to be taxed. This is going to continue up to the minute that we send out the rest of world payroll so all I can do is go through the motions and wait it out. This is one of those rare days in this job where my work goes past 5, but I'm logged out by 5:30 so nothing too terrible.<p></p><p>Meanwhile downstairs Hubs and Stepson #2 have started dinner. It's a mac n'cheese n'nuggets night (the dark blob is BBQ sauce). I would rather have anything else for dinner but I'm part of a family so I've settled for mostly eating what everyone else eats. It's worth it for the company.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8i6Nnu2j4QMEHmQYQoKmgydyl9booGngQRp0PKbOoWlO5737vM1q3VkwARupNi3wY6VcPBfNiVPbv3lewwNFGIuq2AOGWJ318Ke2kpW16cA5_vP8IDJATOZa0yiIRZJBehSXV9MYV-tWI01pZTBARoh4Vr-5_1nzV0VMthRwCWzhasiDK-7dTaACAGk8/s4032/2023-12-12%2017.49.54.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8i6Nnu2j4QMEHmQYQoKmgydyl9booGngQRp0PKbOoWlO5737vM1q3VkwARupNi3wY6VcPBfNiVPbv3lewwNFGIuq2AOGWJ318Ke2kpW16cA5_vP8IDJATOZa0yiIRZJBehSXV9MYV-tWI01pZTBARoh4Vr-5_1nzV0VMthRwCWzhasiDK-7dTaACAGk8/w640-h480/2023-12-12%2017.49.54.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>After dinner I take a walk and the boys get ready for Scouts. They're gone before I get back. I watch a little TV (TMZ and random Youtube) and write the bloggo. I haven't had any snacks today so a treat is called for. I snag a Magnum double gold bar out of the freezer.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyqKYdPnTQ_244OtZ5mODmOOCQYKrgLIoT-TE8vD0v7vmqvfbt3YQJd-BjoZPRHIaJwrIVGmvrUv1Xb-1RUVzgP7-fuLuly4AAEbF447YJB4afRy1EDsHbr9Z74gInoo3PKRNCT1lA-IczczmHQJuAdgeQ8FZOfPQSOOR-7B0jvyVEyILntDFu59Ie5M/s3470/2023-12-12%2019.43.27.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2331" data-original-width="3470" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyqKYdPnTQ_244OtZ5mODmOOCQYKrgLIoT-TE8vD0v7vmqvfbt3YQJd-BjoZPRHIaJwrIVGmvrUv1Xb-1RUVzgP7-fuLuly4AAEbF447YJB4afRy1EDsHbr9Z74gInoo3PKRNCT1lA-IczczmHQJuAdgeQ8FZOfPQSOOR-7B0jvyVEyILntDFu59Ie5M/w640-h430/2023-12-12%2019.43.27.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The fellas come home and sack out for a bit. Hubs and I do the puzzle of the day. We're at the halfway point of the puzzle so if anyone is keeping track we're halfway through advent in the blink of an eye.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguN_EVfmvBGXFPc3WnEhz_F9bITqbe2COeB2yLLVM3rE522dQoMiewFoPoVLjsDIzCfCakATbadVQ1hzljNMPzkkEfE1Ak-PsCKd965yDzTCX9nNJExZr6DQ78mPLU9YI8fLgEjv4dDqmkZFfKXmwdswF_DJe5kpx7-w5TDpwk7pXwZC-U7lsFFFoQnbQ/s4032/2023-12-12%2021.25.38.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguN_EVfmvBGXFPc3WnEhz_F9bITqbe2COeB2yLLVM3rE522dQoMiewFoPoVLjsDIzCfCakATbadVQ1hzljNMPzkkEfE1Ak-PsCKd965yDzTCX9nNJExZr6DQ78mPLU9YI8fLgEjv4dDqmkZFfKXmwdswF_DJe5kpx7-w5TDpwk7pXwZC-U7lsFFFoQnbQ/w640-h480/2023-12-12%2021.25.38.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Hubs and I make our way upstairs and showering/reading/crossword puzzling ensue. I'm very tired but again my body can't figure out how to make the sleep thing happen so I bring in an assist from a sleep meditation. I wake up several times in the night but sleep is decent enough. And the next thing I know it's Wednesday. But that's a story for tomorrow.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-58240802827042349582023-12-13T09:27:00.003-05:002023-12-13T13:00:20.797-05:00Week in the Life: Monday. December 11<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYySODY3FMKtOFHpgN4ILFJpNnLGNchcRkuVpZXm61z-l2mjrMJ1udScC_KiJmWPFCxIVyyl8eOMWLqz7SeeLbTPAuVNBq5u0fpILMyx566ULo77m5pa-U5JKONGRVly6qNB5p3lV8J9pOF8PQm2kkCbtHG-tbkFhh2LHthcqg_Xe53tcPMEVcXOz7RX0/s4032/2023-12-11%2005.54.59.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYySODY3FMKtOFHpgN4ILFJpNnLGNchcRkuVpZXm61z-l2mjrMJ1udScC_KiJmWPFCxIVyyl8eOMWLqz7SeeLbTPAuVNBq5u0fpILMyx566ULo77m5pa-U5JKONGRVly6qNB5p3lV8J9pOF8PQm2kkCbtHG-tbkFhh2LHthcqg_Xe53tcPMEVcXOz7RX0/w640-h480/2023-12-11%2005.54.59.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Hey friends, let's do something a little different this week.<p></p><p>I'm a huge fan of "day in the life" posts but every time that I sit down to write one I quickly become horrified by the mundanity of my life and think "I don't want to write this and no one wants to read it". </p><p>But during NaBloPo I was very taken with Stephany's <a href="https://stephanywrites.com/week-in-the-life-monday-november-6th/" target="_blank">Week in the Life</a> series, and now I find myself motivated to try again. Sometimes you just need to sit down and write the kind of content that you want to see, so we're going to take another stab at this and see what happens. The worst case is that this will be incredibly boring, the best case is that I might learn something, and the ultimate best case is that some of the other Cool Bloggers might do this themselves (<b>HINT! HINT!</b>). In any case, there's not a lot happening this week so I might as well spend my free time doing a bit of extra blogging.<br /></p><p>I'm giving myself a bit of a head start by not posting Monday's recap until Wednesday, so hopefully I'll be able to keep up with tracking my fascinating life.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>Here's what went down in the life on Monday, December 11. <br /></p><p>On Mondays and Wednesdays I get up before the hubs, so the goal is always to wake up and get downstairs before the silent alarm on my Garmin goes off. Today is a rousing success in that department. I wake up around 5:30 and snuggle until 5:50 when I get up for real and tip toe downstairs.</p><p>Coffee is the first order of business. I looooove coffee but as an adult I recognize that there's a limit to how much caffeine I can have, so I only drink one cup a day. My go-to brew is Trader Joe's French Roast and I always grind the beans the night before so that all I have to do is to put water in the coffee maker and turn in on. Today I have the "small" size which is two scoops of beans and water up to the "3" marker. The Mug du Jour was a wedding present and I pour in a splash of half and half.<br /></p><p>While the coffee brews I grab my laptop and go down to our basement gym. I change into workout clothes (which I keep in the gym) and connect my laptop to the TV. That takes long enough for the coffee to brew, so I go back upstairs to get My Precious and then it's workout time. I pop in my airpods so that everyone else can keep sleeping while I start sweating.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo3_SjemNu36gOUcQTXeUR1t2aVV9nFV9siu7q580Ec-Y662HxHmHbR4XspSspApY_V_XTeE-gBaWeqDPc7HF1siyjCHKY7roidnctrYZwySlKKCYeb7uR1pT_i-YjgIt3bfhYra8i06roHKcT2LmcIOUXMM7PKSeFrtPGHSbQEHI4T180Tt2JQYtL8g/s4032/2023-12-11%2006.26.16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo3_SjemNu36gOUcQTXeUR1t2aVV9nFV9siu7q580Ec-Y662HxHmHbR4XspSspApY_V_XTeE-gBaWeqDPc7HF1siyjCHKY7roidnctrYZwySlKKCYeb7uR1pT_i-YjgIt3bfhYra8i06roHKcT2LmcIOUXMM7PKSeFrtPGHSbQEHI4T180Tt2JQYtL8g/w640-h480/2023-12-11%2006.26.16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Plan A was to do a full body workout from the Caroline Girvan Epic Endgame series on Youtube, but I realize that's not going to work. I got my COVID booster yesterday and although it isn't terrible, my arm is just sore enough that upper body work is off the table. OK, so either I'm going to skip strength or I'm going to find a lower body workout...I scroll through her video list and come up with a 15 minute lower body workout.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rma9n_xL1i0" width="320" youtube-src-id="rma9n_xL1i0"></iframe></div><p></p><p>Problem solved! Wait you say, we know you're on a quest to do pushups
three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays so how are you
going to pull that off? Well, I luckily I'm psychic so I did my Monday
pushups on Sunday right before I had my shot so the pushup quota has
already been filled.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhws5KxbAPJHfeIBw6AYK5L26HkuvebYCvyL1JHS08HeyiraAIsw1Zs_yvJcJAfnAc0t11uFs4HtOIbsjL96LZUUjLUrNI1C-Hs2Djmh47mK76_Jc4eWxJVl9xHFrKlUZSc90W5bGEYzbJoIY03XpNJvapmU9ZIizuaCmye8O_T_ol9dTwGsX6wmpttODU/s4032/2023-12-11%2006.23.49.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhws5KxbAPJHfeIBw6AYK5L26HkuvebYCvyL1JHS08HeyiraAIsw1Zs_yvJcJAfnAc0t11uFs4HtOIbsjL96LZUUjLUrNI1C-Hs2Djmh47mK76_Jc4eWxJVl9xHFrKlUZSc90W5bGEYzbJoIY03XpNJvapmU9ZIizuaCmye8O_T_ol9dTwGsX6wmpttODU/w640-h480/2023-12-11%2006.23.49.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>After the strength workout I hop on the treadmill for a 20 minute power walk. I need something to do besides stare at the wall for 20 minutes, and random Youtube videos fit the bill.</p><p>I'm done working out at 6:50 which is much earlier than normal. Hubs is eating breakfast and stepson #2 should be downstairs since he gets picked up for school at 7, but he's still getting ready so he and I end up being ships that pass in the night. I put my laptop away in my nook in the back room and stop by the kitchen to do the first Reheating of the Coffee. Then I go upstairs and shower. The hubs and I are pretty spartan with our shower products, but here's what goes down. The hubs has another nook with his shampoo. And yes I use his body wash because (1) I like it and (2) it cuts down on the number of products we have in the shower.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0AxhUs497wRMnhX1j8NF31K_oOOvDuemZCVT60Z9G83ffk2i-uC3vDqJED6CY2aI3hLnRgUGWYyHHGIHyTrmV4rAm0tIKeVSvXhgZ2zxK19vfoklnjNfVPB9p-yxAgczoi1qyaMEUb-dAbyQj25SbRiXR5eduiQat5SsmcmpiTJT2fdJ_z_ebEF7dlA/s4032/2023-12-11%2006.56.13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0AxhUs497wRMnhX1j8NF31K_oOOvDuemZCVT60Z9G83ffk2i-uC3vDqJED6CY2aI3hLnRgUGWYyHHGIHyTrmV4rAm0tIKeVSvXhgZ2zxK19vfoklnjNfVPB9p-yxAgczoi1qyaMEUb-dAbyQj25SbRiXR5eduiQat5SsmcmpiTJT2fdJ_z_ebEF7dlA/w480-h640/2023-12-11%2006.56.13.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Post shower we have the exciting world of moisturizer and leave in conditioner. I don't have any on camera meetings today, so we're air drying. I slip into my "day" pajamas, which are leggins and a long sleeved hoodie.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahY9uClPYc30p7w0e9IoodQQ4qPYAZTcj_08AHaSwPs7NVcFR_pjDDVQAmr6L5eXxbXoRtDJZfusIESGwnD6geF10dazBCcCPDhOkAzEwM2vW8mfRGigw53DikSYGHVvVvDRJI_i3jCUSuO0-ZEYP99o-k9A76cqVaacgaWE1-1cgGcLvPCkLdSQ6mpg/s4032/2023-12-11%2007.04.33.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahY9uClPYc30p7w0e9IoodQQ4qPYAZTcj_08AHaSwPs7NVcFR_pjDDVQAmr6L5eXxbXoRtDJZfusIESGwnD6geF10dazBCcCPDhOkAzEwM2vW8mfRGigw53DikSYGHVvVvDRJI_i3jCUSuO0-ZEYP99o-k9A76cqVaacgaWE1-1cgGcLvPCkLdSQ6mpg/w640-h480/2023-12-11%2007.04.33.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Normally I'm really rushed in the mornings but today is a welcome exception. I'm not ready for food yet, so I get right back in bed and sip on my coffee while doing Wordle and the NY Spelling Bee. Today was not my day for Wordle.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZ_SJLRpGrFZGAT_EKK6Yqye5mRXLrnFyUhcGnOle-oKOmPIVEUcIVNkHdmoaOonLnMQo0-LazX9vIUH1jMNKuaDyHFopBZO4rJMhsrrFsu3WBvJ3BXOzdDKmtfHupKTf832E3eM3yMmtUef7wYXjbQ-US3FnV100uHp1GHGAWjl9hCdD8nD3qdjKTYA/s2208/2023-12-11%2007.13.00.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="1242" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZ_SJLRpGrFZGAT_EKK6Yqye5mRXLrnFyUhcGnOle-oKOmPIVEUcIVNkHdmoaOonLnMQo0-LazX9vIUH1jMNKuaDyHFopBZO4rJMhsrrFsu3WBvJ3BXOzdDKmtfHupKTf832E3eM3yMmtUef7wYXjbQ-US3FnV100uHp1GHGAWjl9hCdD8nD3qdjKTYA/w360-h640/2023-12-11%2007.13.00.png" width="360" /></a></div><p>I work for an international company so the day started a long time ago for everyone else on my team. My phone is in do not disturb mode until 7, and my boss and her boss are hard at it chatting on our 3-way Slack channel. I firmly ignore them until I start work at 8 - I mean if something is on fire yes I'll start work early but otherwise work stays on the "ignore" list until the work day starts. I end up with about 20 minutes of blog reading time, which is a rarity these days.<br /></p><p>Ok, it's getting close to 8. I go into my office, which is the spare bedroom next door and fire up my work laptop. Then I go downstairs for another Reheating of the Coffee and nuke up a breakfast burrito. I munch on a handful of grapes while it's heating up. Stepson #1 has gotten up, had breakfast, and was hanging out with hubs for a bit and is now heading out the door. Hubs makes his way up to his office, which is down the hall from me. We learned very early on the pandemic that we can do everything together except share an office. I mean, I don't know what his problem is since my work is fascinating but whatever. I head back upstairs with breakfast and get into it.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvhzflVl3dgCMpblDayiD2AiCp343T8UGynln0SVOKZVeOzKxwBErmKJ7FGZ3JcBK9HzCKcuZ8UT4oXOcegqaYgtE_1mdLQerJLbeXrnKTX3KRkC24ciGnLtqzkqrSaJDhyt4ZPEzzQudk4z252g_7gEACxshM9H4UexkKnWOMFkRD1KkmWXMx3pIM0I/s4032/2023-12-11%2008.03.51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvhzflVl3dgCMpblDayiD2AiCp343T8UGynln0SVOKZVeOzKxwBErmKJ7FGZ3JcBK9HzCKcuZ8UT4oXOcegqaYgtE_1mdLQerJLbeXrnKTX3KRkC24ciGnLtqzkqrSaJDhyt4ZPEzzQudk4z252g_7gEACxshM9H4UexkKnWOMFkRD1KkmWXMx3pIM0I/w640-h480/2023-12-11%2008.03.51.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Let's werk it! If you're new here, I am an accountant that specializes in payroll, or an "accountant who has fun" as I like to think of it. It's a blend of traditional accounting plus paying people. I work for an international company that has just enough employees in the US that they needed someone who gets a US paycheck to run things over here. Over the past two years I've weaseled my way into the international payrolls as well. This week we're finishing off the US and Canada payrolls for December 15th, and then we'll switch over to the "everyone else" payrolls that will pay at the end of the month. <br /></p><p></p><p>As you'll see, there are advantages to being in a different time zone than the rest of your team but first thing in the morning is not one of them. It's morning for me and afternoon for everyone else, so they've got quite a head start on me. The ol' inbox is full and busting at the seams. I start by parsing through and figuring out what's going on today, and then what has been handled already and what needs to be done. Today isn't too shabby, and in the end I've just got a handful of things to chase down for payroll. The big thing that's going down is that it's close to year end, so for the past few weeks we've been chasing down all of the fringe
benefits - stuff like employee gifts that the tax man gets a cut from so they have to be reported in payroll. Every country has different rules on what's taxable and what isn't and if no one
minds me saying so, it's insanely boring to keep track of.</p><p>My boss has a couple of questions for me on Slack and my boss's boss calls me to go over one of the fringe projects. It's nothing that I actually <i>want</i> to do, but also nothing that's too annoying. Around 10 I finally finish my coffee, brush my teeth, and take a little break to snuggle up in my comfy office chair and read blogs. My work computer will go to sleep after 15 minutes of no activity, so I make sure to move my mouse every once in a while to keep my Slack light on. Yes I've heard of <a href="https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/what-are-mouse-jigglers/" target="_blank">mouse jigglers</a> but I work for my living so I just move the mouse myself. I have to say that the ability to work for a while and then take downtime for a while is the #1 perk of working from home. I've always needed breaks in my work day and it's so much better to just relax instead of...mentally checking out and pretending to look like I'm working which I what I did back in the bad ol' office days. Just curious for my fellow folks with traditional "sit at a desk" jobs how many of you are actually "balls to the wall" busy for 8 hours straight? I've had some busy jobs in my time but I've always worked on the "do work take breaks" system.<br /></p><p>I get back to werk but now I'm hungry so I grab a small cereal bar from the kitchen and get back at it. This tides me over to lunch. My boss and boss's boss stop working earlier than usual so I'm in total control of my time today.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWIOdp0uPTred193B5n7StQVEI7oFbiLXlh43KuUcKBONeYTDbmFvc16LxzuN7BMHLXP2dTHKQ7uPIfRvPBBYsPBbQm56Lnd4N03ztgEkXcj8BuDRfAMvMTzIXQaSQPHhZLipQweZpD961pc0xyRG2UEZuZbCe4U_3Dcznd8Cl0hZJCn3MjBJRfIDDeY/s4032/2023-12-11%2012.23.11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWIOdp0uPTred193B5n7StQVEI7oFbiLXlh43KuUcKBONeYTDbmFvc16LxzuN7BMHLXP2dTHKQ7uPIfRvPBBYsPBbQm56Lnd4N03ztgEkXcj8BuDRfAMvMTzIXQaSQPHhZLipQweZpD961pc0xyRG2UEZuZbCe4U_3Dcznd8Cl0hZJCn3MjBJRfIDDeY/w640-h480/2023-12-11%2012.23.11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>It's noon. If you think that people who WFH just sit around in their PJs all day, you are half right. I get dressed in a casual shirt and jeans before heading down to lunch. The hubs has come downstairs as well. He makes a turkey sandwich and I reheat a lil' something that I cooked up on Sunday that I'm very excited about: <a href="https://rainbowplantlife.com/gochujang-noodles/" target="_blank">Rainbow Plant Life's Gochujang noodles</a>. I feel like every time I link to a recipe I have to tell you everything that I did differently: no bok choy because I didn't have any, orange bell pepper instead of red because that's what the store had, I added in some frozen fried tofu blocks, and I doubled the sauce. This is goooood stuff.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nrx2cuushmCSL6QIheXfKtQEoUhm7yj78SVSieyxaMWEPDrw6KHNdMU-BL_8VWsQujL1p4jbQNOfpsCyWcmLPgitqUkzWh43T5GbjcYy_GN_HevYA3UEups59_MJuI5aO1rvh6nmxqCOAU5oDsGxckrsxymSctmxrF2kbA48GMWnJzUThBpg8gHVdXk/s4032/2023-12-11%2012.05.53.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nrx2cuushmCSL6QIheXfKtQEoUhm7yj78SVSieyxaMWEPDrw6KHNdMU-BL_8VWsQujL1p4jbQNOfpsCyWcmLPgitqUkzWh43T5GbjcYy_GN_HevYA3UEups59_MJuI5aO1rvh6nmxqCOAU5oDsGxckrsxymSctmxrF2kbA48GMWnJzUThBpg8gHVdXk/w640-h480/2023-12-11%2012.05.53.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>After lunch I head out for a walk around the block. It's as much of a physical as a mental activity to get some movement and clear my head. I listen to a podcasts while I'm out there. It's a so-so day. Cloudy and kind of dark, but not too cold and the snow is pretty.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaHM-iW0Shp6joJsmBjDRB8ur3NYjxpdTEEW-bmnL9tUclLNlu433eUrZnKANFkh4vqZGbCojiBIvaetoNfGc8ZxOUlKMy2ZhwlBaFCoq1OWguPuZntv4nPruI280Qc3Px_S4c2S-VTCDx0kr7-De5v_8rW7hpwsIpZLJMcRGQh9umiI4eSraa9WOut8/s4032/2023-12-11%2013.45.20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaHM-iW0Shp6joJsmBjDRB8ur3NYjxpdTEEW-bmnL9tUclLNlu433eUrZnKANFkh4vqZGbCojiBIvaetoNfGc8ZxOUlKMy2ZhwlBaFCoq1OWguPuZntv4nPruI280Qc3Px_S4c2S-VTCDx0kr7-De5v_8rW7hpwsIpZLJMcRGQh9umiI4eSraa9WOut8/w640-h480/2023-12-11%2013.45.20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>After I get back I get a lil' treat and head back up to work.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQs942C0EgRiwWLKXBrgH-8shndbI3yDeW5VnEhfsLNJlE0bJdwtYZ2rDsnokGuF5W_Zdbx6ercYpc2guddVo8hEmjs7KzOw8I6Zl8Yn0MW93lLhFvKesFeG_LgVmzHArmSJ-rqI8H5EXI_sqySsejzbIPkgi4W0_tDgoRXtdOSqmZ1IuYHfhezoMmwLA/s4032/2023-12-11%2012.23.21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQs942C0EgRiwWLKXBrgH-8shndbI3yDeW5VnEhfsLNJlE0bJdwtYZ2rDsnokGuF5W_Zdbx6ercYpc2guddVo8hEmjs7KzOw8I6Zl8Yn0MW93lLhFvKesFeG_LgVmzHArmSJ-rqI8H5EXI_sqySsejzbIPkgi4W0_tDgoRXtdOSqmZ1IuYHfhezoMmwLA/w640-h480/2023-12-11%2012.23.21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>By three I've done everything that I need to do for the day except send a few emails, so I hop back into my comfy chair and take an internet break. I feel snacky so I grab a small bag of microwave popcorn. Hubs just so happens to be downstairs on a plant watering break and stepson #2 comes home so I finally get to see him. We chit chat for a bit and then everyone goes back to work and/or homework. Another perk of work from home is being able to see your family during the day.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1S9DxEv463zps_IwY763PuDLC0N1oqP2eVbvk9NeffEx2IiP9bWZxw4UmDurtX3ToMJEbi5aBY7tGh-CGjq0v3cME9dW-swQY-ccfNMGV1xfm1qG1vqkCK9AJVowxbpOskFO1wLnnp42TEYMYny3IS6PV7HC3TnpMGBjh1dguGtmPY0wq1c23jguDym8/s4032/2023-12-11%2015.30.22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1S9DxEv463zps_IwY763PuDLC0N1oqP2eVbvk9NeffEx2IiP9bWZxw4UmDurtX3ToMJEbi5aBY7tGh-CGjq0v3cME9dW-swQY-ccfNMGV1xfm1qG1vqkCK9AJVowxbpOskFO1wLnnp42TEYMYny3IS6PV7HC3TnpMGBjh1dguGtmPY0wq1c23jguDym8/w640-h480/2023-12-11%2015.30.22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I alternate blog writing with sending out emails and shut down right at 5. <br /></p><p>Dinner time! Or more accurately, let's call it leftover reheating time. The fellas have leftover turkey pot pie from last night, and I have another chicken sausage and rice deal. My gourmet cooking method is to grab a chicken sausage out of the freezer, microwave it for 30 seconds, pierce the skin with a knife, and then pop it in the air fryer for 5 minutes. While that goes down, I reheat some chicken flavored rice that I made a while ago that's been in the freezer and some peas. It's not wildly exciting, but it gets the job done. Stepson #1 is still at school, where he's wrapping up his first semester of college, so it's just hubs, #2, and me for dinner.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3AQswxyGObdDsRB7foqL8A5rgdFEKvRkEHxB0q1zEmF4PgzOJXdDQdGSU87cBMK0W4FHgRJb4safCBQieRpDX3Kjk_F45Rj0Lluuagup1v4aeNyue1d0FaTXiHFciHPBQwSKwMcIYD5lfG-YoNj1y_RnoogWepQDIzFx7o45Qd8kZf7aeU1xxmZ8WHI/s4032/2023-12-11%2017.22.12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3AQswxyGObdDsRB7foqL8A5rgdFEKvRkEHxB0q1zEmF4PgzOJXdDQdGSU87cBMK0W4FHgRJb4safCBQieRpDX3Kjk_F45Rj0Lluuagup1v4aeNyue1d0FaTXiHFciHPBQwSKwMcIYD5lfG-YoNj1y_RnoogWepQDIzFx7o45Qd8kZf7aeU1xxmZ8WHI/w640-h480/2023-12-11%2017.22.12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>After dinner the hubs and I go out for a walk. Just a few weeks ago that sentence would have read "after dinner Stepdog takes the hubs and me for a walk". We are grateful for the wonderful years that we had with our incredible dog and that she passed peacefully AND we miss her terribly and it's fair to say that we continue to have small moments of "Stepdog sads" throughout the day.<br /></p><p>After we get back Hubs settles down in his relaxing spot in the front room and I settle into my lair in the back room. I hear a strange noise from the front room so I investigate and find that Hubs is setting up the cool Nerf gun that we won at my company Christmas party on Friday. Hilarity and chaos ensue.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LOHqZy9ZdbJf8b_WzSuSoSjLC-vE9WyHX5Q3Q8iCd_TJpnCnTnknP8TdZ3UFVtv8YIQphlmzRH8eedNyMlAyTfUxyvxEd4e26x8iAiJWyRDn7mv-Xr3z29ikecveyAxm_wCU2WexLC6DtqNM_BJWCnEZPKq48nrKm7TrMBFWJMIlGVPdp-xjsLgDTqM/s4032/2023-12-10%2019.04.25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LOHqZy9ZdbJf8b_WzSuSoSjLC-vE9WyHX5Q3Q8iCd_TJpnCnTnknP8TdZ3UFVtv8YIQphlmzRH8eedNyMlAyTfUxyvxEd4e26x8iAiJWyRDn7mv-Xr3z29ikecveyAxm_wCU2WexLC6DtqNM_BJWCnEZPKq48nrKm7TrMBFWJMIlGVPdp-xjsLgDTqM/w640-h480/2023-12-10%2019.04.25.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Stepson #1 comes home and has the remaining piece of turkey pot pie and hangs out with hubs. Stepson #2 disappears into homework with his headphones on. Hubs works out and then he and I do today's section of our <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CG6BH981?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details" target="_blank">puzzle advent calendar</a>. This is a new tradition for us this year and I don't know how we made it through previous advents without it. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRh9vKVcmvd9l0OJmFtsCJvAvMLbEz6zqKMWF8MGWXOyHWKES3o-gyLC-7JTzIvmgp0yrXj-TNq0vFdqd1qrfJs817YgUHx_HFgivQL1acktN3PMNOIM7WlympJbSxuGQ5t3E5sZLLtgV-v4YwqtoH4jzPtI4n8LO3IZiDxsgV8fhNExxGFF0ECek4nv4/s4032/2023-12-11%2020.58.54.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRh9vKVcmvd9l0OJmFtsCJvAvMLbEz6zqKMWF8MGWXOyHWKES3o-gyLC-7JTzIvmgp0yrXj-TNq0vFdqd1qrfJs817YgUHx_HFgivQL1acktN3PMNOIM7WlympJbSxuGQ5t3E5sZLLtgV-v4YwqtoH4jzPtI4n8LO3IZiDxsgV8fhNExxGFF0ECek4nv4/w640-h480/2023-12-11%2020.58.54.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>After that we settle back into our respective lairs until bedtime. I indulge in my #1 vice of watching the TMV TV show. It's 20 minutes of brain candy and it's where I learned about my <a href="https://www.villages-news.com/2023/12/09/incredible-brenda-lee-back-at-no-1-with-historic-holiday-hit/" target="_blank">current favorite news story</a> - when you're a 79 year old legend who everyone thinks is sitting in a rocking chair and looking back on your glory days but you're really letting Mariah Carey know who's boss of the Christmas charts. This is followed by more random videos on Youtube, a good browse of the internets, and further writing of this post. </p><p>The night wears on and the hubs and I make our way upstairs. I take a quick shower and if you're saying wait hold the phone you took a shower this morning, bravo for paying attention. Yes I take two showers on days when I work out. The morning shower is the "heavy duty" one because workout sweat. The night shower is mostly to help with dry eye syndrome. The secret sauce to managing the dry eye beast in addition to gallons of eye drops and an omega 3 supplement is to put this goop on my eye lids and take a quick shower. If I leave the goop on it irritates my eyes, if I wipe it off I doesn't really do anything, but if I hop in the shower and get some steam on it that's where the magic happens. And no the magic doesn't happen if I do it in the morning, it has to be at night. I think it's because sleep is drying to my eyes so having them not dry when I go to bed puts me ahead of the curve. Whatever, it works and things that work are gold in the dry eye world.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplES1APiJT0agUQjWHVYNSe4QsFeyr82FGp10aEG8ydQZ0X824Sfrz0_e-kwXQKhKRuyWeUctlzgVk-E5n2MN3qMve6Xt0XETsCMZmkpxY6VTem_yvI-UR2aS9U_jMZ5UcSmQP9O47aSHHPh7VQWm8Tbly9yzNN7mPQpValGfz5EbaemPGot8u_1rPRY/s4032/2023-12-12%2020.02.46.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplES1APiJT0agUQjWHVYNSe4QsFeyr82FGp10aEG8ydQZ0X824Sfrz0_e-kwXQKhKRuyWeUctlzgVk-E5n2MN3qMve6Xt0XETsCMZmkpxY6VTem_yvI-UR2aS9U_jMZ5UcSmQP9O47aSHHPh7VQWm8Tbly9yzNN7mPQpValGfz5EbaemPGot8u_1rPRY/w480-h640/2023-12-12%2020.02.46.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>After the shower I snuggle in bed with the hubs. It's just after 10, which is when the NYT crossword puzzle comes out, so I do the mini and the regular puzzle. After that I've got enough time to read a chapter of my latest book, A is for Alibi. Around 10:30 hubs turns out his light so I pack it up myself. I'm tired but my brain is blazing and I'm thinking a million thoughts. My head won't shut up which I know from experience is not compatible with sleep. I pull out my airpods and fire up a sleep mediation on the Insight Timer app. It takes two 15 minute meditations to get my head where my body needs it to be. I stay awake long enough to take my airpods out and the next thing I know it's Tuesday. But that's a story for tomorrow.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862780880843779940.post-53530779849553110212023-12-11T19:48:00.000-05:002023-12-11T21:44:27.468-05:00Weekly Round Up: The Leftovers<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCB0h4urKVCaPgYkgv6-lPFdQnACku5Ahaf2Nh-QI7WRoNklfhX2eCl5tAVMxvOuHQpOCrOF7zdvzxqPt0tUqPnMIXgLEUGAwjU0zy9Lz6XkPVWVpttQeNRXcQOMcuE0hWjKZGFMhhk2lsZYwsXlFuAjk6uSRTzqKAKiXewGgGGwURSZPIL48jpaAzdD8/s4032/2023-12-10%2018.44.16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCB0h4urKVCaPgYkgv6-lPFdQnACku5Ahaf2Nh-QI7WRoNklfhX2eCl5tAVMxvOuHQpOCrOF7zdvzxqPt0tUqPnMIXgLEUGAwjU0zy9Lz6XkPVWVpttQeNRXcQOMcuE0hWjKZGFMhhk2lsZYwsXlFuAjk6uSRTzqKAKiXewGgGGwURSZPIL48jpaAzdD8/w640-h480/2023-12-10%2018.44.16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>A weekly round up: eats, workouts, watches, and reads. In this week's edition we revived our leftover Thanksgiving turkey, I tried a book series that I'd previously had on my "no" list, and I found a good podcast.<br /><p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><b>Eats</b></p><p>A few days after Thanksgiving I parked a mound of leftover turkey in the freezer. If I'm remembering correctly, I did the same thing last year and tossed it sometime around Easter.</p><p>This year had a happier ending. I brought the leftover turkey back to life in a turkey pot pie - our standard <a href="https://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/chicken-pot-pie/" target="_blank">chicken pot pie recipe</a>, just with turkey. It was a big hit with the fam.</p><p>It was a big hit with me because I got the satisfaction of seeing it used up, enjoyed my time playing in the kitchen with the pie, and then had a non-turkey dinner that I enjoyed - airfried chicken sausage, leftover rice that was hanging out in the freezer, and peas.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwxS684q-ZD3oa2aksQaMH3rVx34Cyu-4jO-GnEx3aV12x77w1faubVW5SId6vMnylevpT3miQkg8PxSA5e5ShSIRw66ImF_azJaz7vvUChN2vYqasaWDWAf4MPIxqbzEcfMlQcZEOqFA54p5WEiQWL71xMkXwlEENGHp9S_lAQKbzWQdLnOY2wWqwig/s4032/2023-12-10%2018.47.32.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwxS684q-ZD3oa2aksQaMH3rVx34Cyu-4jO-GnEx3aV12x77w1faubVW5SId6vMnylevpT3miQkg8PxSA5e5ShSIRw66ImF_azJaz7vvUChN2vYqasaWDWAf4MPIxqbzEcfMlQcZEOqFA54p5WEiQWL71xMkXwlEENGHp9S_lAQKbzWQdLnOY2wWqwig/w640-h480/2023-12-10%2018.47.32.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Workouts</b></p><p>Not much to say this week. I'm in more of a grove with the pushups again.</p><p><b>Watching</b></p><p>Nada. <br /></p><p><b>Reading</b></p><p>I finished my reread of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Town-Like-Alice-Vintage-International-ebook/dp/B0036894N2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KCIQM3JDA0VE&keywords=a+town+like+alice+book&qid=1701133463&sprefix=a+town+like+%2Caps%2C383&sr=8-1" target="_blank">A Town Like Alice</a> by Nevil Shute, who is one of my all time favorite authors. This usually makes the list of his best books, and I do like it and I'd pick it as a great introduction to this author, but it's never been on my Top of the Top list for him. I've always preferred the kind-of-similar The Far Country. On this reread I think I know the reason why - there are a couple of details about The Far Country that are more "me" but also the second to last chapter of Alice drags on way too long. Shute takes a detour in the story that goes on forever and only adds one tiny plot point that was needed to wrap things up. It kind of felt like his editor took a long lunch that day and just passed that chapter on to the printer without reading it. Overall it's a minor criticism of an excellent book.</p><p>Anyhoo <a href="http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com/2023/11/weekly-round-up-thanksgiving.html" target="_blank">two weeks ago when I asked what everyone's favorite go-to rereads were</a>, Sue Grafton's Alphabet series came up in the discussion quite a lot, and I take notes about things like that. I have to confess that once upon a time long long ago I dated someone who hated to read but said that the one exception was the Alphabet series, so I filed it under "well if that guy liked it there's no way I'm ever reading these books." Well guess what, sometimes a blind squirrel finds a nut. I'm reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Alibi-Kinsey-Millhone-Alphabet-Mysteries/dp/0312938993" target="_blank">A is for Alibi</a>, and the first night it was just OK and every night thereafter I've been looking forward to reading a little more each night. We've got a winner here.<br /></p><p><b>Podcasting</b></p><p>I don't talk about podcasts much here, because I feel like by the time I get to something it's already yesterday's news. But for once I'm ahead of the curve.</p><p>When you're sitting around with your dad watching NCIS and he mentions that he changed his name a long time ago and that there are probably people still looking for him but asks you not to look into it any further...<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/12/06/my-fugitive-dad-podcast-interview-randele/" target="_blank">and yes you google that anyway</a>. So far I've only listened to the first episode of My Fugitive Dad because that's all that has been released and I can't wait to hear more. What a wild, wacky story.<br /></p><p><b>So is that it?</b></p><p>Yep that's it for right now. From here things go one of two ways:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Ima work on a lil' blog experiment and if it pans out you'll be hearing a lot from me for the next week. I might need until Wednesday to get a groove worked out but once the train starts rolling it's gonna roll.<br /></li><li>If the lil' blog experiment doesn't work out I'll be back next week and explain myself.</li></ul><p><b><i>Peace out!</i></b> <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Birchwood Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01504702778025456387noreply@blogger.com20