The Lighter Side Cafe Thursday 4/30!

I'm with both of you- Ann and Sue - good riddance to April even though it is a month we will never forget.  Rainy here and gloomy.  At least yesterday was nice, but when it is like this, it's hard not to feel blue. 

I can't even imagine what my hair would look like if I cut it!  My hairdresser assures me that I can "totally" do my own coloring, but I'm not sure I am even up to trying.  It's not so bad yet.  

I had two softboiled eggs and a slice of Dave's Killer thin sliced 60 cal bread for breakfast with a dot of butter.  And a small glass of V8.  I like that juice and I often forget to buy it.  Last night DH and I had the leftover Mexican Veggie soup for dinner with some of those WW nacho chips crumbled on top with a tad of shredded cheese and lf sour cream. It is a great soup if you are looking for a 0 pt recipe (except for toppings).  Tonight we'll do another Hello Fresh.  I had a busy night last night with a 1.5 hour uke lesson and singalong followed immediately by a 1.5 hour chat with our book club members on Zoom.  I can see why people are getting Zoom fatigue.  By 9 PM, i still needed to unwind before bed so I watched the latest episode of Deadwater Fell with David Tennant.  He is such a great actor and it's a very good suspenseful miniseries.  I read the rest of Nora Roberts book which I really enjoyed for a change of pace and went to bed by 11.  All the early night chatter required some mindless tv and relaxation to get the wheels to stop spinning!  I often find that socializing revs me up and then I need to shut it down before bed. 

Today will be a bit busier workwise since our VIrtual board of trustees meeting is tomorrow via Zoom.  

Sue, what the heck is wrong with that entitled crew buying ALL the meats at Costco?  How much do they really need and shame on Costco for getting greedy and letting that happen.  I am with you.  Sometimes at Whole Foods, I overhear exasperated people complain about them not having some very specialized item - for example, I heard a women in front of me give the clerk a hard time about not finding some organic, Costa Rican specific blend of coffee.  She was angry at the poor kid!   Give me a break.  I have no use for them.  Talk about a first world problem.  My DD dropped out of a women's group in her very wealthy CA area because when they were talking about their issues one week, one woman said her week has been sooo upturned because she missed her Soul Cycle cycling class  Good grief - oh well, my rant. We chuckle about it. 

Back to work.  I stayed the same for my morning WI.  I am going to track the day now, too.  Taking a page out of Ann's successful playbook!  

Ann ~ Good for you for thinking to purchase a parting gift for April?? <LOL>  Whatever makes us happy, right?

Judy ~ I also have to unwind before bed.  Times that we've come home at bedtime (back in the days when we went 'out') DH could drop on his pillow and be asleep. Me ....not so much ..... otherwise my head spins. BTW, you CAN totally do your hair when you're ready.  

I have to agree about tracking for the day.  Usually by the time I track my breakfast I know what I'm having for supper so I track it as well.  Then lunch is usually a no-brainer.  But it helps to see how many SP I have.  I know to non-WWers that seems like a lot of work, but it has evolved over time for me and no problem!

I went out for a walk and sure enough the rain picked up and picked up enough that one lap was all I did and then came home and hung my wet coat up.  At least I got to stretch my legs.  I am SO GLAD I have gotten over that "all or nothing" mindset because now I believe every little bit  helps (whether it be food or exercise).  

DH is going to stop at Kroger while he is out running his errands this morning. They had their chuck roast on sale and I would like a couple.  We've had them before and they are quiet good (if prepared properly).  I love the taste of chuck but it tends to be tough - except that I have a crock pot and now also a pressure cooker (my Instant Pot).  So it will come out cut-with-a-fork tender.

I think I will go start some lunch for both of us and then settle in to watch the mid-day news.  Always something going on in the world it seems.

BBL.  Make a great day!

Good Morning Cafe friends!

It's another beautiful sunny day with the high expected to reach 75. I couldn't get up the gumption to walk yesterday and figured a day off wouldn't hurt. I did move around and walk the driveway a few times.

After our 3rd trip to town yesterday, DD1 called to see if I was picking up my free boiled crawfish. Several businesses pooled resources to provide a free treat for first responders and front-line medical personnel. The hospice director very kindly included the hospice volunteers, unbeknownst to me. I told DD I was not making another trip to town, so she was welcome to pick mine up and give to Anna, who loves boiled crawfish. I have been having some nearly every week, so won't miss them.

My bread came out very well yesterday. I used rapid rise yeast which expired last November. When I googled, I found that you can proof rapid rise yeast to tell if it's still working. (Normally, rapid rise is added dry to the flour.) When I proofed it, it was fine. I have one more packet to use before I start on my new supply of active dry yeast. Over time, I have adjusted my recipe slightly with regard to amount of flour, proofing time, rising time and baking time in my particular oven. I am now well-satisfied and will quit tweaking, lol.

I also do best when I track everything at breakfast time, even if I have to make small changes later. It tends to keep me on plan. Tonight, I will make a beef-based rice and gravy with some thin-sliced round steak. I'm planning on beets and sauteed cabbage or coleslaw as sides. Breakfast was a slice of Dave's toasted (always with a little butter), a boiled egg and grapes.

DH is busy peeling more onions, so I will soon be chopping them and preparing to freeze. He will store the rest in the extra fridge and we will be supplied with 6-8 months of onions+plenty to share with DD1 and DD2.

Sue - We have also been watching the news re: closing packing plants and farmers having to destroy animals and crops. We have made sure we have a good supply, but not going crazy with it. The meat shelves here are nearly bare,too. I think a big part of the problem is not hoarding, but families having to supply all the food and TP that were normally accessed at school and work. I know my DDs are having a hard time providing daily breakfasts, lunches and snacks that the kids normally got at daycare/school, plus for the adults in the house who normally ate lunch out several times per week. Also, being home and bored = more snacking than normal.

Ann - DH and I decided that with all the money we are saving by not going to movies or eating out and not impulse-buying while shopping in stores, we should be able to splurge on a "pay-per-view" now and then. I'm glad you treated yourselves to more of Saul!

Judy - I really miss my two yoga classes per week, but I'm not in agony over it, lol. And shame on anyone who berates a store clerk because something is not available! For goodness sakes, people need to get a grip on their tempers and mouths. I hope your workday goes well.

Time to get with the onions!

It finally stopped raining long enough for us to get a hood walk in. That felt wonderful

Time to relax.