jmg44
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Posts: 938
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 17, 2016 3:09:00 GMT
I am helping by arranging the food for the reception-- using a place near hear who Cruise BF said she used last week and was great---not a chain but a locally owned restaurant. I also will gather pictures from friends---I held my tongue about making the slide show---I could do it---and maybe should but I am a little concerned about having a christmas ready for my family---still have no gifts for my grand daughters and one grandson and haven't mailed anything to son and his SO in SLC nor to DS park ranger and family. So tomorrow that is what i will be working on after going to my pilates class at 9:15.
Picked all the tomatoes and posted a pic of them---a whole spin basket full of them---I couldn't believe it. Tried making fried green tomatoes tonight---DH liked them with hot sauce---I didn't eat much because of cankor sore worries---BTW JoAnne, I have been gargling with hydrogen peroxide---I know it was your last suggestioin but was one I had here---it does truly help---four times yesterday and probably felt better this morning than it has in two weeks. Need to go do it again.
It is still so windy---was gale force when I was tomato picking.
I am probably going to have to go to bed early tonight---have had a dull headache all day.
I have made no neighbor treats because I had ordered solar bug lights to put in mason jars for patio tables and now they have not yet Come.
I really want to make more gingerbread cookies---DH ate all of them after I hid them in the freezer---I am going to have to find a new hiding place--he has been on a sugar kick big time.
My weights class was fabulous today---really hard since I was using a very strong stretchy band---I liked it though.
DD is taking the boys to UT for a couple days of skiing so we will have the dog during the day and take him home late evenings to sleep in his own house with the cats. He is allowed to sleep on the bed and therefore I cannot take him overnite---never wanted a dog in bed with us---DH and I find we like our space. We will need to go over to feed the cats each morning any way and can do so in the evening when we go back.
Ok the exhaustion is hitting me---think I'll watch a gilmore girls episode or two and cash it in!
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Post by nov21987 on Dec 17, 2016 20:20:58 GMT
Hi!
Another day organizing, purging - threw away a box of cooking magazines, and a huge pile of pages torn from magazines that I threw away years ago. Came to the realization that I was never going to look at these again in searching out recipes. Just simpler to go online. Plus I have word files of recipes that I've collected through the years.
Cold and dreary yesterday and today. There was light snow overnight, no accumulation though. Will go to the gym soon.
Joan, you do so much for others, glad you decided not to take on making a slide show, that would suck up a lot of your time. I hope your canker sore is better today.
Holly, how was your party?
Jojo, you sound like you will be very busy with visitors.
I guess the avatar shows up if you have posted to a particular thread.
We're going out to dinner tonight with ex-co worker and his girlfriend. It is a Dutch restaurant, so will be very interesting. I've never been to the Netherlands, although I have been to Finland and Denmark, Germany, Switzerland.
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jmg44
Transcendent Member
Posts: 938
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 17, 2016 21:31:58 GMT
Sue, you have inspired me---I too, have a box of torn recipes from magazines and of those little books you used to get at the check out stand years ago---some of which had really good recipes---I think today is a good time for those to die!! I've had them in a box since remodel awaiting attention---the reason I don't get to it is what you said--internet---so handy and takes no space!
Wrapping the little we got to send to SLC and ELY, NV---boy we are late! Went to the gym---found out the pilates class I thought I could do by moving my yoga to senior yoga is at the wrong time--so will go back to the int. Yoga class and only do pilates when the yoga gym is out of session---which will be true this Tuesday. Darn---sort of bummed as I really wanted to do that class---my yoga teacher is happy---she says she doesn't want me to leave the int. Class cause she thinks I'm way too strong to be in the senior one. Well, that's nice to hear but I'm still bummed about it ito a degree.
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Post by holly2007 on Dec 18, 2016 18:08:25 GMT
Hi all,
The party was fun. I sat at a table with my closest coworker friends. Lots of laughs.
We went to a family friend's college graduation party last night.
I need to get myself organized. Working through Wednesday, then we have off until January 3rd.
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Post by nov21987 on Dec 19, 2016 2:09:07 GMT
Hi!
Relaxing day, did a little more organizing, a little more online shopping, went to the gym. I made a tomato beef stew that I used to have a lot growing up but I haven't made it in years. So yummy.
Dinner was very good last night and it was nice to see ex-colleague. He's totally miserable at the office though and has been putting out feelers at other companies. As we walked to their car (they drove us home, we took a taxi there), I passed by a restaurant that the ex-mail guy in my office works at (he's also going to my school). So I went into the restaurant to say hi. Good to see him. We won't be in any of the same classes next quarter though. He works evenings at the restaurant.
Joan, too bad about the yoga class, hope someday that might work out for you.
Holly, glad you had a good time at the party.
Tomorrow is bank day, need to close out my Wells Fargo account and get some money for tips for housekeeper and front desk staff, etc.
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jmg44
Transcendent Member
Posts: 938
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 19, 2016 2:59:55 GMT
Wow, trying to catch up on a few things today---did get the catering ordered---did it for 50 but I know it would probably serve 60---however, I don't think there will be more than 45 or 50 people at the house.
DH and I went and investigated the Sleep Number Bed-again--we passed on it in favor of Tempurpedic and our matress is only 4 years old--firmest Tempurpedic made---and it's starting to get too soft for my back---I hesitated to tell DH about it because I feel so guilty---we buy mattresses like some people do cars, I swear. However, he said he totally noticed it too and thought I didn't. Anyway, DS in SLC made our platform bed and to do a Speep Number we would have to modify the base in the center at the top---a big job---but seeing the pump it is now clear that we have enough space if we can be creative and find a way to create a "trap door" through which it can be placed on the floor under the base but between the backs of the two drawers under the top end of the bed. The one with the second to the least amount of extra padding over the bladders seems the most comfortable---because we would only need the top mattress the cost is not too bad---not as bad as what we have. Only trouble is what to do with ours!!
Sue, once again I am reminded that you are so in touch with your circle of friends and acquaintances just can't picture your leaving it. How fun to go in and see a fellow student---what is he doing at the restaurant---in the cooking end of things yet? Doesn't sound as tho' things have gotten better at your former work place.
Holly, glad you had a fun time at your party.
I bought DGD16 a really soft pair of sweat pants today for Christmas---they were on sale so were very cheap---got them in Juniors at Macy's. We will give her those and the balance in money---giving them enough to add up to a hundred this year. Not as much as usual but you know they aren't in need for a lot of stuff! Also bought myself two little pot holders that match the kitchen but mostly that fit my small hands---regular pot mitts are just too unweildy and big---these are more like lid grabbers but for me they become like a mit! I love them. Also got a new can opener as mine from Pampered Chef is just worn out. And got another little paring knife with just a few serrated teeth for starting the cut---again match, match with the kitchen---and then spied a rubber spatula that was also the right color---one of mine tore the other day and I use them a lot so could justify! LOL
Then I hit the market and came home---made some chicken finger strips with panko, sesame seeds and a bunch of spices and basil, parsley and oregano---tasted really good with just a salad and some carrots.
I think it's Gilmore Girls time now---hope I can stay awake!!
Oh the day started with breakfast out with cruise BF's---had a nice long visit at our favorite place -- will go over on Thursday night to see their kids who are in town for Christmas---these are the ones who got married in Hawaii last year and the brother and family---both boys went to my school for six years each!
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jojowo
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SHORT AND SWEET GODDESSES
Posts: 438
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Post by jojowo on Dec 19, 2016 4:42:44 GMT
Hi All, It's late here but just wanted to check in. Have been a little melancholy today since it was my last Sunday to sing in the choir and to teach my little Sunday School class at the church. We will attend the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services but the choir won't sing. After this we will be visiting some other churches nearby. Binged on Christmas movies today to try to cheer me up.
Sue - My sister and I visited Holland when we went to France and some other places in 2001. I didn't find that the food there(The Netherlands) was much different than anything you find in the States. How was the restaurant you visited?
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jmg44
Transcendent Member
Posts: 938
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 19, 2016 22:57:57 GMT
Hi All! Did the gym classes this morning.
Just mixed up another double batch of molasses cookies to put in the fridge to chill---DH ate every one of my other batch that I "hid" in the freezer so have nothing here for when the kids come for Christmas. I can bake them tomorrow.
Also cleaned up my sewing table so that I can put a blow up bed on the floor in there for one of the girls.
Now I need to wash the dishes, dry the sheets and make my grocery list for Christmas Eve and Christmas day dinners. Lately we've been ordering out for Christmas Eve but we won't have the DGS's for Christmas day dinner and they love my cooking so thinking I'll cook both. I was thinking spare ribs for Christmas Eve and flank steak for Christmas Day. Need to go to Costco cause they have the best choice of flank steak.
I managed to find a nice pair of navy tights to wear with a cute new wool sweater dress I bought in Sacramento---will wear it to Jean's celebration of life.
JoAnne, I can imagine it will be a hard adjustment for you to change churches. Hope you find something you like. Speaking of finding new places you like---I am so in love with this gym I joined in late August! Tomorrow because my yoga class has a 3 week break I will be able to do the pilates and also her yoga class---I feel sad Icannot regularly do the pilates but whenever yoga is on break I will.
I had a wave of depression hit me Saturday night, JoAnne---for about an hour I realized how that feels---wow, sort of hopelessness---I cannot imagine being a person plagued by that regularly. Jean's husband who died about ten years ago was bipolar with long, long deep depressive moods that were so bad that no doctors could find a prescription that really worked. It was weird when it hit me---right after BF's left from playing cards---luckily it passed. Think it was Jean's loss on top of a discussion we had about the world---I am so seldom "down" that it was really a bit scary.
Holly, is everyone going to be at your folk's for the holidays? Do you go out and stay over? Sue, are you with your family on Christmas day?
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Post by holly2007 on Dec 20, 2016 0:23:54 GMT
Hi all,
Just two more days of work until the 3rd, yay! Ready to have enough of a brain to do things that I enjoy, like baking and reading. Want to try to knit a hat and master some new stitches.
I asked for an exercise bike for Christmas. One that's pretty compact. Hoping that can get me in an exercise routine, and in turn help my blood pressure.
I have seasonal depression. February is my worst month. That was even before so many family members passed away in that month. I'm actually afraid of what this constant access to media and global affairs will do to us emotionally long term. We need to find a way to manage it somehow.
JoJo, does your DH still do any preaching?
Joan, hope you can keep the cookies away this time. We are traveling to Greensboro to do Christmas on the 23rd with my dad's side of the family. I am making my grandmother's coconut cake. We'll be here on the actual day. I'll spend the night at my parents' on Christmas Eve.
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Post by nov21987 on Dec 20, 2016 0:40:06 GMT
Hi!
Band day, had to close out account in one bank then had to go to the new bank to deposit the cashier check, then got all the tip money - asked for crisp new bills. With SO and mine new joint accounts, plus an investment account, just so much to manage. The new bank has separate money market and "spend" accounts and I need to transfer from money market to spend. All of this took time and there was a long line of people behind me...I felt bad.
Went to the gym, oh weight is up 123! I'm hoping with how active I'll be when school starts, it will help me to lose.
We're having friends over for dinner Wed night. We debated whether they come over for drinks and then we walk to a nearby restaurant or I cook. SO really wants me to cook. Planned and did online grocery shopping today as well.
Jojo, I'm sure you find a great new church and will form new bonds quickly. The restaurant was very good. I had a mustard soup with scallop that was excellent - it didn't taste too mustardy and had some pureed vegetables in it
Joan, sorry you're feeling so down. I've felt like that before when I was working, just so depressed I wouldn't want to get out of bed. I hope you are feeling better. SO gets depressed, but he's been taking something for it for years.
SO knows I don't want to move, but of course I want to be with him and I know that our new place would be amazing and hopefully a vacation destination for friends/family. I'm not going to worry about it until he actually visits any of these houses he's tracking and falls in love with one of them. I would definitely come back here multiple times per year for long visits.
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Post by nov21987 on Dec 20, 2016 0:41:48 GMT
Holly, I used to have an exercise bike when we lived in the suburbs and I used it a lot
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jmg44
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Posts: 938
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 20, 2016 3:19:38 GMT
Sue, I was lucky===seemed to hit a low point and then managed to get to sleep and woke up feeling fine again the next day.
Made DH a steak tonight and Ihad leftover chicken strips from the other night. Steamed cabbage and broccoli and that was it.
It seems I am sniffling more and more---imagining this cold is really going to become a cold now---so bizarre.
We hit Costco and got 4 flank steaks---will freeze one. Lines were long but they opened the last register so we were then about 4th in line and our line went really fast.
I am going to write a few more cards tonight---have just not been doing them! They will be late for sure. Oh well---at least I can keep sending them late or not.
I should write out the gift card for my gym teacher and take her gift tomorrow---she teaches both classes tomorrow so maybe I'll do that. I try to write out an appreciation letter so it takes a bit of thought.
DD finished her 2017 calendar and posted the picture on FB----I showed some people at the gym and have 12 orders already for her---it's really cute this year again. I think she should be illustrating children's books. She only charges 12 dollars for the calendar set---uses the money to help with the girls summer workshops.
Thinking I'll put on my PJ's---we still have to take DD's dog back home but maybe I could get DH to do that alone---it's really cold out there.
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Post by nov21987 on Dec 20, 2016 18:37:24 GMT
Hi!
Early gym/housekeeper day. So nice to get it out of the way, but I don't walk as fast as I usually do later on in the day. I'm definitely not a morning person, and more of late night person.
Beef is on the menu for me as well. With friends tomorrow night, I'm going to do a puree of cauliflower soup with slivers of smoked salmon, fried shallots and instead of my usual soup/fish/pasta/main course, I'm skipping the fish and pasta. I'm doing filet mignon with mushroom demi-glace, served with polenta with crabmeat and duck confit (made in school) folded in - so kind of pasta/seafood incorporated - roasted broccolini for greens. Going to get some colorful macaroons for dessert.
Hors d'oeuvres will be mini potatoes stuffed with creme fraiche and caviar, slices of the pate en croute (from my picture) that I still have leftovers of from class, some cheese and crackers.
I'm not doing menu cards either, keeping it simpler than I used to do, don't want to spend days preparing!
Joan, it sounds like your DD is quite artistic! Can you tell me how much the catering cost for the 50 people and how much/what food you ordered? Just curious. Catering is a possible future thing for me.
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Post by holly2007 on Dec 20, 2016 19:43:09 GMT
Hi all,
Quiet day in the library. We're closed to the public, but working. Several people are already on vacation.
I love exercise bikes because it's easy to read or watch something while exercising. I can't hold the book close enough to do that on the treadmill or elliptical.
Sue, that sounds like a good fit for you.
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jmg44
Transcendent Member
Posts: 938
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 20, 2016 23:44:57 GMT
Good evening everyone! Just got in from outside---did the pilates class at 9:30---stopped by the market just for a couple things I am out of, had a lunch, then ran down to an outlet mall that has a NIKE store and got a gift card for DGD12 who wants to order some certain shoes---so got a $50 card and then will give her 50 in cash---spending just 100 on each DGK this year. Bought two stocking stuffers for the girls and myself---and one for each of the kids. Really need to get a little something else for DD here and for DGD16 for whom I have a $19 pair of sweat pants! After getting back DH washed windows and cleaned off the patio while I did yard work---deadheaded and cut back flowers and roses and pulled all the dead and dying leaves off the iris (of which I have tons), cut arugula and kale, pulled dead basil out and dead tomato bushes and cut all up and bagged---wow, it looks really nice and clean out there--however at the very last minute cutting back the mint I managed to cut a sprinkler line---so now DH has a repair job---think he will wait till tomorrow tho' as soon it will be starting to get dark. It was a beautiful wind-free day with full sun and even tho cool, it felt really nice out. Now I don't feel like cooking. Wonder if DH would be willing to order himself a pizza???
Holly, I asked for an exercise bike once but that was long before I was committed to exercise---I did not use it---but I've not been one to care much for biking as exercise unless I'm going somewhere on a bike. I think DH prefers it over many other things. I hope you get a nice one that works well for your reading as well. I have a friend who has hers in front of a tv and that is when she watches.
Wow, Sue---what a dinner you have planned---will be awesome. The catering I called is very informal lunch---3 salads---Chinese Chicken, Veggie salad with chicken on the side, and type of cob salad with chicken---two platters of sandwiches and wraps of a variety, and a platter of a variety of dessert bars. For 50 it cost me $570--I have had two of their salads before and they are good.
Tomorrow I have two classes, a manicure and need to wrap up the little amount of gifts we have. Also need to get spareribs for Christmas Eve and some veggies and decide on a dessert. I am thinking of making my cheesecake recipe for Christmas dinner---it's large---sort of not in the mood for pie for some odd reason (odd because I love it). Everyone in the family likes cheesecake tho and this recipe is exceptionally good---terribly fattening tho'. Not sure what I'll do. Sort of torn. Also thought about a fruit almond tart that I really like---and that would be way more healthful.
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