aKathy's What's for Dinner 3/20

Happy Friday eve! So looking forward to this weekend!

I took my dad to dinner last night and we had a good talk about where he's at and what he thinks needs to be done. He definitely does not want to move into the adult family home where my sister lives. I think this is a good idea because it's depressing and they wouldn't get the social interaction that they would at a care facility. He doesn't want to give up the money that he has saved to get down to the 2k mark required to qualify for medicaid. We talked about mom and how she can't manage diabetes on her own and that she will need full-time care. it's just hard because she has been so lucid for the past week or so. She was texting bright and early this morning.

We have another call with an elder law attorney this afternoon and I've got questions. Dad doesn't feel like he needs full-time care so we're also considering a home health type of care to help him with daily tasks. Not sure how much that costs but it could be an option. He doesn't really want to live with my sister or I which would be another option,

Thanks so much for being a sounding board for me as we navigate these new waters. I knew this day would come eventually but it's happening quickly and we're trying to make the right decision.

Dinner tonight will be leftover chicken fajitas from the other night.

Hope you all have a great day!

Ugh depression can be so tiring. I hope you can find the cause of it and get rested. 

I make a sheet plan dinner like that but not with cabbage or a sauce. Sounds yummy. 

Glad you are feeling a bit better.


They are very rough waters to navigate. You seem to be doing all the necessary steps and asking all the questions. This is all you can do. Be gentle with yourself.


I'm sorry to hear this. Hopefully, it is your CPAP. Hugs to you. The sheet pan dinner sounds wonderful!

I get to take the puny dog back to the vet this morning. I had considered all week canceling the appt and then got to last night and hadn't done that yet. I didn't feel right canceling this morning. So off we go here soon. I think it is a not really necessary appt. I have been making his dog food for the last couple of weeks and his tummy troubles seem to have cleared up some. There is still an issue but not scary like before that I want to ask the vet about. And danggit, if I have to start cooking for this dog for the rest of his life and then cooking for my health, I'll never get out of the kitchen. However, I love him dearly and want him to have his bounciest and pounciest life.

I did not have the cauli crust veggie pizza last night so I will cook that tonight. We had wildfires near me last night that seem to have been contained. Due to that I got a phone call from DIL and YDS. They were concerned if I was getting any smoke from either of the 2 known fires. Nope, I was all good. So that along with a couple of errands after work, I ran out of time to cook. It was a bowl of cereal and a banana for dinner last night.

Tonight I just need to do some cleaning prep ahead of DD getting here tomorrow. I think it is office clean out weekend and going through some clothes. Deciding on stuff that is trash, can be donated to a men's shelter here and some to Goodwill.

hutchfan your sausage potato soup sounds good. It is chilly and windy here today. My DD made a great soup during the time she was here at Christmas. I need to get that recipe from her.

Everyone try to get out there and have a good day. Smell the fresh air, feel the sun on your face(if you have sun), smile at someone. I also need to take my own advice!

You're a good dog mom. I am such an animal lover. They are such a part of the family. EXCEPT birds!! I hate birds. Sigh...LOL!

I hope you start feeling better. Today I'm in the exercise phase of depression. Where I'm dragging my ass to the elliptical for a minute at a time 4000 times a day. Just trying to pump some life into me. I've also been checking my blood sugar this morning and it's quite possible that is adding to the problem.

scrapmaven. I love a good chicken Parm.

Just hanging out by the pool today. My great nephews and their mom and dad are headed to SeaWorld/aquatica tomorrow for their spring break. I’ll see them when they get back. They’re just going for a couple of days. The time with them this winter has been awesome. I wish I lived here because my niece sometimes Just needs help with getting them here and there plus finding a good sitter so she and her husband can go out to dinner. No I would never move here. Florida is too hot in July iandAugust.

I hate birds too!  They scare me!    

I am not a candidate for that device. My sleep apnea is too severe. I've been wearing a CPAP for like 20 years now. This is not med side effects as I haven't had a change in meds since summer 2023. Maggie usually lays between my knees. But last night I was apparently sleeping on my stomach so she was up near my upper body laying right next to me. Cats are silly. I'm truly fine with this depression. My brain is just running super slow (no terrible thoughts, hardly any thoughts at all really) and I just feel so tired. The only thing I can think of that would make me happy is to sew. But alas I'm at work, on lunch, but at work. And working on a very tedious project that requires a lot of breaks so I don't go blind from all the numbers. Hahaha...



Oh, what I wouldn't give for a day at the pool! I hope you are having a blast. Yesterday was beautiful here, windows open, sunshine. Today? It's snowing again. It usually takes me to at least April 1st to complain about winter. But I was over it a month ago.

Honestly, I'm almost ready to throw in the towel on work today.  My brain is running so slow.  I cannot emphasize enough that depression for me is like my brain and my body just being held in a sort of suspension.  I have music blaring.  I've been on and off the elliptical.  I'm in and out of the spreadsheet. My focus is shot.   

I was in at 6 today. So I could technically log off at 2:30. Like I said, I'm just going log back in here Ina minute and pull out my project and we will see how it goes.

Thank you!  We are all waiting to hear how things go for you today too.  Big hugs. 

I love that you are listening to him about the options and he has reservations with some. If I'm reading you right, it really sounds like he is open to assisted living but not there yet. I don't know how available space is where your mom would be, and if they'd be waitlisted, but have home care as a stop gap definitely could help with the transition. And probably eat down their savings to get them to qualify for Medicaid. 

 you too, my friend. 

Wait, why did I think you had birds at one point?   Sorry the day has been a struggle.

Enjoy the sun and family time, christine58.

Good to see you feeling better and getting out on dates, leannec.

Hope things settle enough for you to enjoy more me time, **GypsyGirl**.

Thinking of you today, flanz, and sending all the positive energy your way that you get some answers and a better idea of what is going on with your arm/shoulder.

After hearing the woes of a friend down with shingles on his throat and head, DH finally was motivated to get a Shingrix vaccine yesterday. And because he likes to maximize his schedule and is a bit competitive, he also got Covid, flu and tetanus at the same time. All in the same arm. The competitive part is he decided to do all four after I told him I'd had 3 at the same time. I haven't talked to him yet today but know he will deny any effects/discomfort because that is the way he rolls. 

I'm running errands before and after my noon yoga class. The group that runs these classes had a draw for an all day wellness retreat and I won one of the 20 spots, but had to decline because it is a couple days after my next round of treatment starts. Until we know how I respond, I'm under orders to isolate.

I'm not sure what is for dinner, but thinking maybe a Danish version of Philly Cheesesteaks. Danish because I'd have to sub Havarti cheese for the provolone unless I want to add a grocery stop to the errand list.

We do have birds. Two very chirpy, annoying parakeets that Jeremy insisted on adopting. They hate us so much they won't come out of their cage and act like idiots when we approach the cage at all. Jeremy refers to them as our "broken birds." Apparently too much time at the Humane Society made them very fearful of people. It's become something of a joke between me and Dawn (Leanne has been in the mix too) about how much I hate birds. They are pretty harmless but they can get very loud and annoying.

ETA: I'll stick to my cuddly furry friends.