aKathy's What's for Dinner 12/12

Happy Thursday!

I finished my work for the day and am now peaing and watching Christmas movies. I need to go pick up a grocery order and some prescriptions in awhile.

Tonight is my wine club pickup party so I'll go with my sisters and we'll probably get a bite to eat around there. I might start on Christmas cookies this weekend if I can find room in my freezer. If not, I'll put it off until next weekend. I don't plan on making many but I do like to have some sweetness for the holidays!

I selected a cleaning service finally so they will start with a deep clean on Saturday so I've got to get stuff put away from surfaces etc so they can really get in there. Everything is going into my spare room for right now until I can get more organized.

Hope you all have a great day!

Safe travels sueg . I was so sorry to hear of your Aunt's passing. Blessings to your family.

It rained pretty much all night ~ I hope SoCal got rain too, to help with the fire.

I have a haircut this morning then the rest of the day will be spent working on cards and decorating.

Dinner will be horseradish meatloaf.

Evidence regarding what they said about Rudolph!

Happy Thursday! I finally have a few moments to post and catch up with everyone. It's been a crazy week here. DH is doing very well post surgery. The pain in his arm from the tumor is gone and now he's just dealing with the arm/shoulder surgery pain. He says that gets a little better each day. He is able to move his fingers, wrist and elbow but can't move his shoulder joint for another week. PT is going well. The current plan is to move him back to the SNF there in the hospital for more recovery/PT. They are also getting ready to start radiation treatments for the cancer spots in his tumor and neck vertabrae while he is in hospital.  His oncologist is also getting input from a specialist at MD Anderson on his case.  So things are looking up.  Not sure if he'll be home for Christmas or not, but we'll make it work wherever he is!

Tuesday I took a day off.  Dropped my car at the shop for a service and brake job and they ended up keeping the car overnight.  So I Ubered back home and spent the day working through my to-do list and made great progress.  Today I am getting my hair colored/cut at noon and then an ob/gyn appointment at 2:30.  Luckily it is in one of the towers at DH's hospital so I'll pop in and see him afterwards.  

Yesterday had a conference call with HR at DH's company.  Seems their policy is that once someone goes onto long term disability they separate them from the company.  So effective yesterday, Mr GypsyGirl is officially retired!  I'm fine with it.  He's almost 69 and has retired twice already.  Maybe this one will stick!  I did tell him not to let his friend who is also a headhunter know about it though!  He's having to wrap his head around it, but did acknowledge that it's for the best.  Said it's the universe's way of telling him it was time for him to slow down and enjoy life a bit more.  That has dumped more paperwork and phone calls in my lap, but we will get it taken care of.  

Absolutely no clue what dinner will be tonight.  Maybe some pasta or a bowl of soup.  Thinking of everyone who is needing hugs and prayers and hope to find more time to post soon.  

Congrats? I think 😊 on your DH’s retirement, **GypsyGirl**. And I’m happy to hear his recovery is going well.

So today is my last day in the office. I will be back on the 23rd and half a day on the 24th. All I needed to do was to get my budget numbers put in and send off to the treasurer. Write checks and have them ready for the lady sitting in next week to get signatures and mail out. I got payroll done yesterday. Seems like today is going to work right? No! I walk in to find out our storage bldgs were broken into last night. So this morning, I have been watching video of the thief. With not identifying spots except it is a newer model SUV.

So it is 11:50am and I've done nothing this morning that I need to. Trying to figure out if lunch is going to happen. I ate oatmeal rather slowly and late into the morning. Just not hungry. And at this point, I may just stay here into the evening to get done what I need to do. That way I can walk out of here and not look back until I have to be back in here.

So my dinner plans are just up in the air.

sueg I am sorry to hear about your aunt.

lucyg please take care of you!

**GypsyGirl** good news on your DH's recovery and I suppose good news on the retirement. Yes?!

cadoodlebug horseradish meatloaf sounds very good to me. But I love a good meatloaf.

Gotta run!!

Happy Friday eve, friends!

Some exciting news: DH has an interview next week! He is nervous because of what happened last time he applied/interviewed for a job, but this one is only an in-person interview, no pre-phone interview or anything. I've been helping him think of questions he might be asked, possible answers, etc. The other fun part: this is the school we both got both of our degrees from and where we met. The COL is significantly less than where we live now, so we'd actually be able to be homeowners and would only be 1/2 hour from my parents and 15 minutes from his dad if we lived in the town where the school is. The pay is around what he makes more, and my salary is unchanged due to relocation if he were to get the job. The only thing that would change is our insurance plan since there are different plans for DMV area vs. everywhere else.

Now to figure out what to plan for dinner next week.

sueg, hugs with the passing of your aunt. lucyg .. good to call
all take care of yourselves!!!

so in the morning yesterday, we went to the commencement ceremony then the graduate parade. It was both in maori and english and started with a hakka..it was 2.5 hours long. full of joy and celebration and not serious at all. sometimes, as a grad's name was called, families and friends in the audience gave chants or hakkas or sang in a group...everyone would just stop and respectfully listen. many international students in the crowd and many wore their traditonal dress.. from chinese, to vietnamese, many indonesians and even lederhosen from germany.

then afterwards, we all went about 1/2 mile down the main street of downtown and there was the graduate parade. it started with a pipe band, and ended with a brass band. we lined up as a family and held signs of congrats...and that even made it to the school's instagram account!! we finally all met up again about two in the afternoon.

we all went out to a burmese space that is closing in two weeks--my kids know the owners. it was a great dinner enjoyed by all.. many dishes I was not familiar with. we all went home and just went to bed.

today going to the national museum tepapa.

Glad you're being seen lucyg - hope they get you feeling better soon! Glad your husband is feeling better post surgery @gypsgirl and that he can enjoy his retirement - I know lots struggle with it! Sorry to hear about your aunt sueg.

Well dinner is going to be something I grab after yoga - probably pad thai since it's right across the street! I'm trying to make sure I struggle some self care stuff with all the insanity of the holidays!

Take care all!

I have made it to Dubai in one piece. We were a bit late leaving Munich, but made up the time in the air.
I didn’t have the full dinner offered, just the starter and dessert


Middle Eastern mezze plate



Chocolate mousse cake with salt caramel sauce

I now have about 2.5 hours until my onward journey. I am really tired - I didn’t sleep well last night and only got about an hour’s nap on the flight - so I hope to get more rest on the second leg.

Thank you all for the condolences for my Aunty. Though she was 87 and has been in poor health for a while, the end came very quickly, which I think was a good thing for her and her family.

My mum had dementia when she died and it wasn’t pretty. I am terribly sorry for the loss of your dearest brother. It gives me peace knowing he didn’t suffer for years. Sending many hugs to you and KelleeM.

lucyg I'm glad you're being an adult and going to get your cough checked out. I know what it's like to have "ignore" as the default position, so good on you for ignoring the urge to ignore. 

sueg I am sorry about your aunt, and that you weren't able to see her one last time. I hope you packed your summer gear for your trip, we're heading for a high of 40C on Monday. That will be a shock to your system, coming from the cold weather you've been having. Your airline food looks pretty good! 

hutchfan I'm glad you have a date to get your cataracts removed. It probably feels like a fairly long wait, but February will be here before we know it. 

**GypsyGirl** "separating" someone from their company sounds a bit heartless, but in your husband's case, it sounds like it is for the best, seeing that he is already past the normal retirement age. I hope he sees it as a positive, and that it sticks this time!

Happy 89th birthday wishes to your dad christine58 . (((Hugs)))

scrappintoee I know the feeling of dreaming about loved ones who we have lost. I'm glad yours was a sweet dream. Often in my dreams like this, I know that the person has passed away, and that they have come back for just a short time, and I know I have to make the most of their "visit". It's so weird, and bittersweet. I love your adorable-bull Christmas photo!

Condolences once again karenlou and KelleeM . Karen I posted your Christmas card for the swap before you lost your brother, and now the Merry Christmas and Happy New Year message feels a bit.... I don't know.... insensitive? Please know that I will be thinking of you over the festive season, as you go through this sad time.

rymeswithpurple good luck to your husband with the job interview! It sounds like a great opportunity.


DSO has gone away for the weekend, to help a mate build a fence at their new holiday house 3+ hours away. He left yesterday afternoon (Thursday). I couldn't be bothered cooking for just me, and luckily I had a Lite'n Easy meal in the freezer. It was a Mexican style lasagne, and was really tasty.

sueg I'm so sorry about your aunt. But I am a bit jealous of the luxurious flights you get to take. I'm usually stuck in economy LOL

Tearisci I'm envious of your cleaning service! I miss having a cleaning lady. But it's not in the budget anymore

**GypsyGirl** I'm sorry your family is going through so much with your husband's health. But this does sound like a positive update. I hope his retirement sticks!

lucyg sending you speedy healing vibes. You have enough to deal with

christine58 happy heavenly birthday to your dad

rymeswithpurple that's so exciting, keeping all my crossables crossed for your dh

ntsf that sounds like a wonderful graduation ceremony! Far more interesting than most tend to be

karenlou & KelleeM I'm so sorry for your loss.



I had the day off, had an appt this morning for some personal care and then I think I got the last of my christmas shopping finished! I put a good dent in the wrapping today too. It's so freaking cold here today that I couldn't take my dog Frankie out for his walk, and he had been whining at me all day to stop what I'm doing & pay attention to him. Now he's zonked out asleep on the couch while I catch up on yesterday's survivor. Supper was a quick lasagna that I pulled out of the freezer with some garlic bread. Enough leftover for lunch tomorrow too

More hugs to karenlou and KelleeM !

christine58....Sorry you weren't able to go to visit your Dad. 



Yesss, I have those kind of dreams, too! Last week, it was Sophie  , and we both knew
she was only visiting for a brief time, so she just clung to me for a lonnnng time. When I woke
up, let's just say.... a LOT of Kleenex were needed!
I hate that those dreams are SO REAL!

You are such a generous Mom!