And So It Continues

This stupid virus did not want to leave, much to my irritation. I am behind in everything Christmas, and don't really give a flip. What gets done will, and what doesn't, doesn't.

Monday joy: I still did not feel well. The stupid cough and sneezing seemed worse, which really did irk me. I was ready to be well and my body was not cooperating with me. I was overwhelmingly tired, but not sleepy. Just tired. If TheHub were not so lethargic also, I would have thought it was all in my mind.  Whatever this crap was, it definitely had a hold on us. 

It broke my heart to have to cancel volunteering at Independence Place, but there is no way I would go there and expose them to this junk. I did feel really sorry for myself though, then got some texts from a couple of the participants sending me get well messages. Melted my broken heart!

Monday dinner: I had some meat in the fridge that needed to be used. It was the driving force of our meal plan, even though we could not decide what, if anything, sounded good.

Pork chop in orange sauce, rice pilaf

Tuesday joy: TheHub woke feeling a tad better. I was still coughing my head off and wanted to do little. Even the thought of walking upstairs and pulling out some Christmas decorations was more than I could bring myself to do. 

I really wanted to stay in my pj's and languish on the couch. Instead I put on my most comfortable, but quite unattractive clothes, and spent a good portion of the day wrapped in a shawl. There was real joy having something I received as a Christmas present last year, that had rarely been used, available when I was freezing. I tackled a mountain of laundry and did the very minimum of  housework in spite of not wanting to do anything at all productive.  

The day was much warmer and my Even the overnight temperature was warm enough that I could set the plants back on the deck. They appear much happier there instead of being stuck in the house.

Tuesday dinner: Neither of us were particularly hungry, but we both wanted something that had a lot of flavor. It wound up being just a one pan mishmash of things I had on hand.

Mexicanish stew, biscuit

Wednesday joy: A full week later I was still not on the mend. I was feeling a little better, but was worried that I might possibly be contagious so I did not go to my Wednesday class.  I did venture to CVS (masked) for a quick drug grab. I claim innocence about how 3 bottles of nail polish jumped in my basket amid the meds and cough drops.

Once home and fully medicated, I sat down and did the first round of Christmas cards. By evening they were stamped and ready to mail.*

Wednesday dinner: We were still not feeling like eating much.

Canned  Progresso soup (can't remember which kind)

Thursday joy: TheHub had a meeting and then planned on going into the office, but was still sneezy so he zoomed the meeting and canceled plans to head to work. After his meeting I dressed in real clothes, even putting on makeup and earrings and we headed on our big trek to run some errands. TheHub needed something from Target (I stayed in the car for the approximately 3 minutes he was in the store) then we dropped the Christmas cards off at the Post Office. I am really peeved with the idiot thieves who were stealing mail from the drive by mail drop boxes. Now the convenience of staying in the car to mail letters is gone and you have to go inside the facility. A$$#@!*$ ruin things for everyone else. Uncool! 

The day was gorgeous and while we were out driving it was apparent that true fall was finally here. The colors of the tree leaves, especially the reds, were just gorgeous so we rode around and looked at how beautiful things were.

Once home we had a delivery from a firm TheHub had been doing business with. Much to our surprise we received a cooler bag filled with steaks, ground round, chicken breasts, pork tenderloins and pork chops, all of which were already vacuum sealed (hooray) so they could go straight into the freezer. It is going to take us much longer than we planned to use everything!

For a little free nighttime entertainment, we decided to head out after dark to see some Christmas decorations. There are several houses in our neighborhood and the surrounding ones who do Christmas decorations on steroids. It was fun to see, especially the houses with lights and music coordinated. You just sit in the car, tune to whatever fm station they have posted on a sign in their yards, and enjoy the "show". 

Thursday dinner: TheHub did not want what I had planned for dinner. Instead we just had . . .

Baked potato

Friday joy: I finally felt like a human being, and it was a good thing I did. We had tickets to see Preservation Hall Cajun Christmas. After having to cancel several planned things it felt great to be able to actually go to something. The concert was very good and  lively . 

It was just what I needed to bring me back to life in the land of the living.  Even so I would not really call it a Christmas concert, however; during the song St. James Infirmary the trumpet soloist managed to weave a brief jazz version of Silent Night into his solo.

Friday dinner: The concert was pretty short and we had not eaten. Purple Onion to the rescue.

Burger, fries and their signature mint tea

Saturday joy: Hooray I felt well enough to go to The Independence Place Christmas party. I have surely missed the participants, especially after having to cancel 2 times volunteering there. TheHub went with me and we were treated to lunch, general visiting and a performance of Christmas music. One of the participants is taking dulcimer lessons and we got to hear her solo.  Never ever doubt the abilities of the differently abled.

After the party we stopped at 4 or 5 places running errands and doing a little shopping. 

Once we got back to the house I was fried. I can really tell I have not been doing much lately. 

Saturday dinner: We both needed something that had an intense taste so I whipped up a somewhat bastardized version of a favorite Thai food.

Pad Thai chicken

Sunday joy: We were able to go to church, then hit Publix for the second time this weekend. When Angel Soft toilet paper is on sale, it is time to refill my to storage in the jacuzzi tub that no one uses. I was in a panic because I was down to my last pack and if you have been reading me long you would know I like to keep at least 5 packs ahead. During covid and the tp scare, we were not affected at all. I was even able to give some to both Mom and My Beloved Sister.

Speaking of My Beloved Sister, she is still in the middle of a difficult time, but will at least let me make dog food for Trinket and Riley. Today I made enough to last them 3 days, but if you make more than that they turn their noses up at it. I will be making it again Wednesday morning. I still wish I could help her more, but she is leery of my cough.

Sunday dinner: We messed around and did not eat (nor did I make anything) until about 20 minutes before Yellowstone was coming on. That meant opening a can and heating it.

Italian wedding soup

I am still not feeling the need to make a plan for the week. We are loaded with food so I will just do the "whatever suits my fancy " thing each day.

Books read in December:

We Used To Live Here

Yellowface

Have a great week staying on plan, going off polan or with no plan at all.

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

* Second round of cards may or may not happen. If I normally send one to you and it did not get sent, I am sorry, but truly wish you a heartfelt Merry Christmas with a promise to do better next year.