Out in the country

If you can't come to the sunset, the sunset shall come to you.

Pictures

The amuse bouche butternut squash soup at Logan

The pork dumplings at Logan

Asparagus tempura at Logan

Stuffed chicken breast, pasta with red pepper sauce, broccoli


Painting in alcove in alley in Ann Arbor

Pig roast last summer



Sedum coming up out back

Logan

Last night we had oysters and chardonnay at the Black Pearl on Main St. in Ann Arbor. Then we walked over to Logan on W. Washington for dinner. Without a reservation, we were offered seats at the bar, where we had eaten before. It's great to eat at the bar because the bar area is scenic, there's lots of action with the waiters getting drinks, there's no mirror behind the bar so, seated with our backs to the dining room, we can pretend it's our own little restaurant.



We had a bottle of a 2006 Font Sane Gigondas with appetizers: asparagus tempura and pork dumplings. The amuse bouche was a butternut squash soup. We also had a mini papaya salad with a Thai dressing and bowls of wild boar pasta and green olive tapenade gnochhi. And they give you these little chef-made biscuits, too! All this food for only $40! The wine was great, not too full but fruit forward with a hint of chocolate and retails for about $22.

THEN we saw the Band of Heathens at the Ark and were blown away! They played 2.5 hours with one 2-minute break. Their harmonies are beautiful and many songs were taken to a jam, with the three front guys playing an assortment of 14 guitars, including a National steel, lap steel, acoustic, electric.

So we don't get back to town until after midnight but feel we must appear at the Welders where the music is ear-splitting but many oldsters were hanging in and were still there when I left at 1. Rod Graf was sitting in as Buford wasn't there. Fred might have played some bass for the injured Fiely.
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Fine weekend

Made a great meal today: pork tenderloin with spinach stuffing, these potato pancake things I got at Churchill's and oven roasted asparagus. Once again, total cost about $10 with plenty of leftovers. $5 pork, $1.89 potatoes, $1.49 asparagus. Less than $2 of spinach, bread crumbs, cheese. MMMMMMMMM.

Last night, Amy and I went to Chowders n Moor in Waterville for dinner before Hines Farm. Mmmm, great onion rings. Good crowd at Hines Farm although Big James didn't start til 9:30 so we only saw the first (of two) sets. They were good though.

Today, just a ton of errands and tasks but got a lot of stuff done. Fixed a miniblind. Figured out how to unlock the doors in my car. Washed the windows in the car. Did laundry. Got a cord at Radio Shack to hook my iPod up to my stereo. Figured out how my iPod tuning works in the car. Figured out how to convert Anne's resume to Google Docs since she doesn't have Microsoft Word. Booked rooms for Madison and Nelsonville. Vacuumed. Got a new shower curtain. Need to book a flight for NYC.

Although it was warm (50 today) and sunny, the snow is still around. My backyard is very shady and it's still under several inches. But this week, with the warmth and the rain, it should be gone soon. And we're a quarter way through March.

Almost midnight and one award to go on the Oscars and then I'm hitting the sack. Jeff Bridges wins best actor, one movie I'd actually seen.

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More food

Here's a delicious meal we had a couple weeks ago. It was mussels and clams and shrimp with fettucine and some red bell pepper. Mmmmmmm. And a pipe.

Finallly March

I've been eating a lot and reading and drinking some wine and exercising erratically. But now it's March and it's been a blue sky everyday and now it's 45 degrees for several days in a row. Still plenty of snow to melt away.

I'm sure you are voting for Crystal Bowersox on American Idol. Here she is from last week on YouTube. I voted about 47 times last week.

I bought two tickets for the Lion King on Broadway April 16. I just need to book a flight and I'll be all set for that. Plus I need to book rooms for Nelsonville and probably Madison.

The lineup for Madison Ribberfest is out and I post it here because their website is intermittently unavailable.

Friday August 20th

6 pm
Greg Foresman

8 pm
Stacy Mitchhart

10 pm
Davy Knowles and Backdoor Slam

Saturday August 21st

1 pm
Hambone

2:30 pm
Sonny Moorman

4 pm
Big Al and the Heavyweights

6 pm
Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps

8 pm
Jimmy Hall and Friends

10 pm
Delbert McClinton

It's spring ahead the night of the Welders, March 13.

California Omelet

Sprouts, avocado, cherry tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, chives. Prepared and served in my kitchen.

Mmmm....
Tasty. 

Crystal Bowersox

We saw her on the patio of Arnie's last September. It was kinda chilly. I bought her a shot of Kahlua. Brush with fame!

Stop me before I shop again

Tonight I stopped in at Churchill's for some wine. By the front door, they have these cute new little wheelie baskets! Bigger than a basket, but smaller than a cart. Walt himself came over, looking jovial as usual. He said his only concern was that someone might trip over them in the aisles. I told him I would keep it by my side.

So I bought 2 bottles of wine and some clementines (make sure you don't buy the USA ones, they're small and have seeds) and some Italian sausage links and 3 big cans of Dei Fratelli tomato products for $1 a can and a bag of bird seed. Now I have so much food, I won't need to shop for 2 weeks. Just an occasional stop at Monette's for veg etc.

My daughter called last night, slightly upset because some company VP had come for a walk-through and she did it with them as she was the only manager on duty. They were dumbfounded at the perfectness of her operations reports and sent an email to the entire company about THIS is the way to do it, people. The upsetting part was that when she told the head store manager, that woman wanted to make sure Anne had told them that she got input from the rest of the team, which Anne had not as she did it all herself just like the little red hen. I told her that woman was just jealous. Anne felt she was stealing her glory. F U bitches, I said.

She is still intent on the move to CA in August and that I come visit in NYC one more time before she leaves. So I'll line that up for April. She's going to South By as she calls it, in Austin next month. She still plans to stay here for July.

I stupidly signed up for a free estimate for something at the house and home show and those people have been calling me nonstop from a RESTRICTED number which I refuse to answer.

Next week-- the big first week of the month: radio mtg. Monday, GNO Weds., Big James at Hines Farm Sat. Also I see there's no longer any mention of Phat Noiz at the ClaZel on their website.
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Last week of February

The ice storm overnight did not materialize. It stayed above freezing so we got some slushy snow but no big deal.

Tonight, good job for me. I made chicken enchiladas and chicken salad out of my rotisserie chicken. Did an hour long exercise thing. Did dishes. Again.

Yesterday I made salmon en croute. With baked potatoes and roasted carrots. OMG it was delicious.



And so easy! And cheap. The whole meal cost about $12. I had never worked with that puff pastry before but I'll do it again. Also made the apple galette. Had the other half of my salmon and baked potato for lunch today.

And have half the galette left. Plus it's so easy! Just put a bunch of apple slices on a pie crust and sprinkle on a bunch of butter and sugar and some cinnamon and bake. Yumba.

I also cleaned yesterday. Yeah, that might not sound like much to you, but cleaning is not a weekly activity for me.

Last night, the little kitty is on point in the kitchen, staring at the pantry cabinet. She sat very still, very still and then BAM she springs and comes up with a mouse in her jaws. Dead with one chomp. And this is a cat with no front claws. I must take back everything bad I've ever said about her.

Here's a thing that got carved out of a red pepper.



I'm gonna let it dry out and see what happens.

Plus two nights in a row, I've had to mess with 13abc.com. Thank you work, for paying my cable/internet bill.
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Shopping

Yesterday Amy and I went to Toledo. After a quick breakfast at the Grill, we went to the house and home show at SeaGate Centre, then to Classic Antiques and Architectural Artifacts in downtown Toledo.

Then we saw Crazy Heart at the Franklin Park cinema. We walked around the mall after, where many people were buying much stuff. Stopped in at Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn and cruised around Dillard's where I bought a long sleeve t-shirt. Stopped in DSW where Amy got a pair of sensible black shoes and I got a wallet.

Then we went to Kohl's where we each bought a top and I bought a pair of stretch pants and by this time it's time for dinner where we tried to go to Shorty's but the wait was an hour and 15 minutes so we ate at Smedlap's in Waterville where Amy had a perch sandwich and I had a southwest burger that was delicious but gigantic.

That shopping is exhausting.
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The food part

MEAT

Chicken thighs. These are inexpensive, moist, and easy. Put them in a crockpot or the oven and cook. Last week I got 10 thighs for $4. This is plenty for a family of four. Rip off that skin, cook.

Rotisserie chicken. You can get one of these for $6 or so and have chicken breasts one time (for 2) and enchiladas, for example, with the rest. Or it will feed a family of four. And although it's probably high in salt and injected fat, it's easier than baking a chicken yourself and that's my point: easy can be good.

Pork tenderloin. When on sale, these are incredibly inexpensive cuts of meat and once again, just put them in the oven and bake. Done. No bones, no fat and gristle. You can get one for about $7 and it's enough for four.

Sausages. You only need one of these per person in a recipe so a pack of 5 for $4, mixed with some pasta, make a quick and fairly nutritious meal.

Frozen fish fillets. Defrost, bake in about 5 minutes.

VEGETABLES

Salad can become expensive with additives and while everybody thinks salad is diet food, it's not if you add hard-boiled eggs and fried chicken strips and cheese and then drown it in dressing.

Frozen vegetables are great and fast. Just don't get the ones with sauce. A bag of vegetables is less than $2 for about 6 servings. Peas, snap peas, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower. And a little butter on them makes them tasty.

Fresh vegetables, like carrots, squash, parsnips can be baked to a delicious sweetness. A bag of carrots is about $1 and is enough for a meal for 4.

CARBS

Rice and pasta are quick and easy. Don't buy the ones in packets with sauce and too much salt. Plus they're expensive, serving-wise. Avoid white rice in favor of a combination of brown or arborio or basmati or wild. Even what looks like an expensive buy will last a long time as one cup of dry makes 2.5 cups of cooked and you only need about 3/4 cup a serving. Potatoes are an OK carb as long as you don't deep fry them or slather them with LOTS of butter or sour cream.

SOUP

Homemade soup, including chili, is easy to make and inexpensive and gets you more vegetable servings. Basically soup is broth and ingredients. Like some of that rotisserie chicken and noodles or pasta and beans, which are very filling and full of protein. Canned soup is over-processed so while you think it's a cheap meal, it's not, compared to homemade which is fresher, closer to the bottom of the food chain, etc.

SO TO WRAP UP

• Plan ahead, take the time to cook. Consider how a fast food meal is about $6 per person and then see what you can make for that $12 for two, $24 (!) for a family of four.
  
• You don't have to eat healthy every meal.
  
• Cut out the prepared foods that include too much salt, sugar and fat.
  
• Although this should go without saying, don't buy chips and cookies and soda. They seem filling and delicious but once again, it's that fat/salt/sugar that you don't need. And don't start with me on the diet soda thing. IT'S BAD.

And I have ignored breakfast here, mainly because so does everybody in America although we've always been told it's the most important meal of the day.

And get over that I-hate-yogurt thing. Toss into some plain yogurt some granola or even a tablespoon of jam and have a piece of whole-grain toast.

Eggs are good for you and a fried egg sandwich is about 200 calories and gets you protein and whole grains. And about high-quality bread. Even if you eat 3 slices a day (one toast, two on a sandwich, say), a loaf that costs $3.50 is 16 slices or about 60 cents a day. My favorite: Brownberry 12-grain.

Good breakfast cereal doesn't have to taste like gravel mixed with sticks.

Doughnuts/pastries/most breakfast bars are bad. I shouldn't even have to say this.
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Eating healthy is not expensive

I heard some guy on TV the other night on one of those 'Why am I so fat?' shows saying how he knows one of his problems is not eating healthy foods but that it's so expensive. I am tired of this excuse, people.

For starters, you can look at This is Why You're Fat, a blog of stuff people eat that they know by just looking at it, they shouldn't be eating it. But it does point up one American view of food that is unhealthy but it's so EASY. Wrap some nutritionless white bread around some meat product and possibly fry it and there's a meal.

So healthy eating is not so much expensive as it is time-consuming compared to the lazy person's way of getting calories into themselves. Plus Americans have come to think that they haven't had a meal if they aren't stuffed and uncomfortable and farting and belching on the couch afterward.

The time spent digesting a bunch of crap AFTER the meal could have been time better spent in conceiving and producing a healthy meal. All that thought! It's so time-consuming!!

And it's not as if healthy eating is depriving yourself of delicious food. It's just adjusting your tastebuds so that you enjoy good food instead of thinking that fat + salt + carbs = delicious.

And it's not as if every single thing you consume has to be fresh-pickt, organic and raw. It just should be prepared as close to the bottom of the food chain as you can. "Prepared foods" have a bad reputation for a reason.

But enough with the chastising. Let's get down to the advice. And the problem with the advice is usually that there's too much of it. Which just makes you bogged down in the details and it all gets so overwhelming and you give up.

(And let me say right off that I am not a dietitian nor do I play one on TV. I just have many years of family and single-person food prep behind me.)

So here we go.

First, figure out some meals. Sit down, possibly with a cookbook (or not, if this is too scary), and decide on some full meals for a week. Or start with 3 days, if this is too much thought.

Think about a meal as a protein, a carb and a vegetable. And remember, if it's got a sauce on it, it probably doesn't need it and is just adding calories/fat/salt.

Eat Healthy America is a good online cookbook, even if it is sponsored by a prepared foods company, General Mills.

Uh oh, gotta go and I didn't even get to the what exactly you should eat yet. More later...

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Long, deep and continuously

This is how JD used to say he would cut somebody. "Three ways. (insert blog post title here)." But I feel this is how February is.

I spent most of the weekend on the couch reading. Two weekends in a row. My own fault, I suppose. Amy and I did go to Hines Farm Saturday night where it was standing room only although we elbowed our way to the dance floor, pretending to dance so we could hear the band. Some 41-year-old youth outside told us a story of how he spent much of his actual youth, traveling around to Grateful Dead concerts selling nitrous oxide. Let's see, the Dead stopped touring in 1995 so that would have made this guy 26 when they stopped.

So as it turns out I did not judge the Eagles chili cook-off, having been preempted by someone who apparently wanted to do it more than I did, Doug Black. Probably just saved my stomach a lot of distress.

Today, after I backed my car out of the garage and got out to close the garage door, a mouse dropped out from under the car and ran into the garage. Hope it wasn't in there eating my car's hoses or something.

Also, even though it's been below freezing for weeks, my garbage can has that vomit smell in it that it had last summer. I don't know how this happens as I bag everything before I toss it in.

I worked today although I did not have to (Presidents Day) so I'll have one more day to take off if it ever becomes nice weather.

At least we have the game night at Amy's on Wednesday to break up the week.

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Bucking up

OMG February has got me in the downward spiral. So tonight I got on it. I did a Pilates DVD and hooked up that new DVD player I got and did laundry and changed my sheets and did laundry and paid bills. I also synched my iPod which I screwed up the first time and had to do it again but I did it. Dammit.

Also, my mom has sent me a check for $100 in a thank you card for the various cash I have lent her over the last few months. I guess I'll deposit it.

Here's a pic my friend in Dallas sent me.



Yay Friday tomorrow.
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Not so much snow

After all. Neither us nor New York City. Although there was a foot at the Toledo airport, we got about 8 which seems like a lot but today when I got home, someone had snow-blowered my driveway. Thank you.

I got all bent out of shape about driving to work today because of the panic induced by the TV stations but it was all for naught and driving home wouldn't have been so bad had I stayed on 75 around Perrysburg and got off at Wooster. 25 was its usual rutted iciness in the windswept spots.

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Snow

Left work about 5 so to get home before dark. Parked in the street while I shoveled out enough to get the car in the drive and did and then shoveled more to get it in the garage and then shoveled more. Still snowing, 3 hours later. Wind is supposed to pick up over night bringing "NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS" according to the NWS. I had taken stuff to spend the night at the station but I decided to come home and see how it goes tomorrow. The drive home wasn't too bad, driven worse. Took about 50 minutes, going through Maumee.

New York City is in for the same thing tomorrow.

Just saw Crystal Bowersox on American Idol where she got to go on to the next round. Hey, I bought that girl some Kahlua once. Simon called her "infectious" as if this is a bad thing. Which I guess it is in some cases.
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Washer: The Finale

I call my mom to finalize the washer pickup for 11 a.m. Saturday. This was before the winter storm warning was issued for Delaware. When I call back Friday to say we will come Sunday instead, NOW the story is that somehow these evil-doers who have the lease on the storage unit have removed the padlock which Karen had apparently the only key to and put on their own padlock which has 2 keys, neither one of which Karen has, although purportedly she could get one from the guy's dad so she calls him and he says he has not been given said key. My mom asked Karen how they got her padlock off if Karen had the only key but she ignored this question.

So Friday night I decide I am done with this washer. I personally believe there is no washer, or at least not the one I bought my mom, in the storage unit. I tell my mom yesterday that I'm not coming ever for the washer so if they want to sell it or whatever, have at it. I tell her my feeling that the washer is MIA, possibly traded away to the evil-doers (who used to be their neighbors at the trailer park)for some debt. Of some kind. My mom of course is incredibly sorry and says so over and over although I keep repeating that it's not her fault.

After I hang up with my mom, my sister calls and tells me the whole story about the key etc. I tell her mom just told me and she said she didn't know I had talked to mom. What a coincidence then! LOL. (she types sarcastically). Also, she adds that some problem with the signing of the papers for the storage unit has cropped up and the storage place owners have changed the secret keypad number so actually nobody can get in there anyway. Then she tells me she fears also that the washer is gone since these people have done her so dirty (her phrase). Although I cannot for the life of me figure out why these evil-doers ever moved that washer out of Karen's trailer in the first place. Or why now they're pissed that for some reason they believe Karen will get some kind of refund on that trailer deal which I just fear is actually going to result in some further indebtedness, no doubt on my mom's part, about the end of the trailer contract, whatever that was.

My mom, bless her heart, stands by Karen's story, fully believing that these bad people took advantage of Karen's generosity to store their stuff at Karen's until they had moved and now continue to screw her over with this storage deal. It makes me wonder how long I would go on believing one of my own children, had they grown up to become lying sociopaths.

Anyway, this has been about the laziest weekend ever. Yesterday I shoveled some snow and went to Meijer and read half a book, the other half of which I read today. Called Miss Annie last night for a couple hours.

Today I am cooking, having already made a quiche, and now have a pot of squash soup simmering and a roast in a pan on the stove, trying to braise it which I feel may turn out to be a giant waste of $8 worth of meat. It's still got almost 2 hours to go (been in about 1.5 hours already) so I'm holding out hope. Why didn't I put this in the crockpot this morning?? Perhaps I will be only having vegetables for dinner.

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photos from phone

Flourless chocolate cake at Avenue Bistro



Wall at Bass Pro



Band at Mulvaney's Bunker



Some tatas at the Bunker



Also tonight was GNO which was good fun. Kay is sick with multiple illnesses that seem to require antibiotics. Additional GNO at Amy's Feb. 17 with games, everybody allowed, even boys.

Furthermore, I cannot find any internet advice about how I cannot use the wheel on my iPod once it's plugged into my car stereo system. Hmmmmmmmmm

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radio radio

Tonight was the heinous radio meeting and although it is only once a month during the school year, and not even some of those months, it is only one hour, it is nearly unbearable. Tonight there was barely the quorum needed to hold a meeting and only because us grown-ups were there. Where are all the kid DJs? Isn't there some rule that says miss so many meetings and your show is reassigned?? The woman who is playing GM this year is just a ditz, or playing a ditz, and we experience some power point where each page has one cryptic line about something that might be coming up but we never get any details. Where are the kids who are apparently heisting the equipment and the CDs? Not at the meetings to be chastised. Next time, scotch before AND after the meeting.

I meant to come home tonight and do some cooking for work lunches but alas, after the Fat Burning Ab Attack workout, I lounged around eating cheese and crackers, which no doubt obliterated any attacking of my abs or fat burning that had taken place.

Also the guy who sold me my car was wrong about where the iPod plugs in. He told me it goes in this single prong AUX thing in the dash but the manual says you plug it in the USB port in the console. Neither the manual nor the online docs say nothing about what that AUX thing is even for. It might be for mp3 players that are not iPods. So I guess I'll try the other hookup tomorrow.

So someone has offered to do the washer retrieval which will be happening this Saturday, god willing and the creek don't rise. I hope it is a fun day other than the appliance loading.

I did indeed buy that case of wine from Joseph's, a 2008 Milton Park Shiraz and amazingly enough, there's still some left a week later.

Groundhog Day tomorrow.
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A nice quiet week

After those 2 weeks+ of drinking every night, this last week was a refreshing change. Probably never thought you'd hear me say that, eh?

One night we went out for half-price sushi at Tea Tree at Levis Commons and Friday night there was some wine drinking but otherwise, incredibly moderate. In bed reading by 10 almost every night.

I went to see the Toledo Rep's production of Leading Ladies today and it was hilarious. Then we ate at Abuelo's and I am stuffed although I only had two enchiladas and some beans and taters.

I loaded a bunch of stuff on my iPod but alas when I plugged it in the car, it said no data. I know there's something in the manual about this message but I don't know what.

After yesterday's total sluggishness of breakfast, laying about all afternoon and then going to the Bass Pro and out to dinner in Toledo and to a bar on Dorr St. to see a band, I got some marginal house cleaning done today and some economy stimulus, i.e., clearance Christmas cards, incense, coffee and a latte, and the trip to Kroger where I always get the same stuff: eggs, bread, kitty din.

This week there's the heinous radio meeting Monday night and GNO Weds. which is apparently at 149 North and then a nothing weekend where I could supposedly go get that damn washer in Delaware as my sister now supposedly has the key to the storage unit although I am loathe to ask anybody to help me with this. My mom says my sister is depressed because where she lives now, there's no cable and although my sister had signed a year contract with the dish people (THERE'S some prudent use of money), she can't put her dish up there and it deprives her of her usual 20 hours a day of TV. I know I'm relentlessly snarky about this but if I had the whole story, like are there meds she could take that would help her but she can't afford them? or is she really the absolute worst sufferer of fibromyalgia on the planet? or where does her money go? or what's the deal with these former trailer park neighbors of her and why are they so angry? then maybe I would be more solicitous. But all I see is her draining my mom of cash and, possibly worse, worrying her interminably.

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Whirlwind

Since I've been back from Mexico, I've not spent one night home alone. It's just party, dine, party. Way to make January go by fast.

I leased a 2010 Honda Insight Wednesday. My lease on the Accord wasn't over until May and I was already a couple thousand miles over. So who knows if I got a good deal or not. It's fun to drive and so "green" and cute.



Tuesday I had to catch up with my cat sitter and the next night we went to Sherry's because her sister was in town and they made these great cheese prosciutto pizzas. I took dates stuffed with gorgonzola and bacon but alas only Connie would try them. And Hope who came later.

Friday was the Joe Baker Band at Howard's on the early bird schedule and then some euchre playing and last night we played poker. Where it seems like everyone won but that's not possible, now, is it?

Today I am making an apple galette and a wilted spinach salad to go with the short ribs that should be here in about an hour.

I got that bottle of 2008 Milton Park Shiraz which I will taste test tonight and then probably go buy the rest of the case from Joseph Beverage.

Bought a bottle of Singleton scotch too which I hardly ever have liquor in the house so let's see if I can be a good girl about it.

Also today since it was so warm (48) I cleaned out the garage so I can get the new auto in there. Much rearranging and hauling some stuff to the basement.

Did you know the yard waste is now closed and we have pay to take brush to the landfill? Apparently this is because we didn't pass the income tax levy in the fall. Somebody shoulda done a better job of pointing out the consequences of this. I don't recall getting any mailings or anything about it. Although maybe it was in the Sentinel.

This week looks to be relatively calm but there are many upcoming shows (see link at right) including Phat Noiz at the Clazel in March.

And I'm not out of money which is amazing as again this month, I have given my mom $200 to help Karen move and now there is some folderol about exactly where my washer is, apparently in some storage unit for which Karen doesn't have the key although she says she'll break that lock off if she has to. You can see why I am reluctant to set up someone to help me go get it when the getting it seems to be in doubt.

Cole Christensen has moved his radio show on 88.1 to Sunday afternoons noon to 2 which I am delighted about since I never got to hear it on Thursdays 4-6, which I called and told him. He's promoting the Chatham County Line show at GFT this Friday.

I've listened to WBGU since 10 am today: Latino, Cole's bluegrass, the India show, and now I Enjoy Being a Girl.

I bought a used DVD player from some guy at work but haven't got that hooked up. Also have not put anything on my iPod yet. What a techno loser I am.

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Last full day

This morning the sand moving equipment arrived in front of our hotel. apparently they´re pumping sand up from the ocean and then spreading the current beach over it to make the beach extend further into the waves. We´ll see how Mother Nature goes for this.

Last night we had a REAL ribeye that we split and a big green salad and some bread with herb butter and then drank more wine after we had sat at La Ranita most of the afternoon drinking wine while it rained.

Eating, drinking, the usual wandering around aimlessly. I´ll have more details and some photos to post when I get back.

At least it´s hot today although still very windy. Hope my kitties are doing OK.

Continued variable

Yesterday we were able to sun from about 11 to 3 and then the clouds set back in. But in the meantime it was beautiful.

Had a ribeye at El Bistro at Lo Tortuga which was pretty good except (1) it wasn´t a ribeye and (2) they apparently have no concept of medium rare. More drinking of whiskey ensued at Fusion 2 spots south of us. In the night I could faintly hear the thumpy music at the Blue Parrot but it was more like a heartbeat in the background.

I see Haiti has been whacked by an earthquake. Hmmm, hope the rest of the world is still out there. Have not shopped for much except a little bride and groom doll. Haven´t been up to the Mega for supplies or nuthin. Yesterday the brain vagueness of total vacation set in.

Had breakfast at La Cueva del Chango this morning where I had some chicken crepes with poblano sauce that were sinfully rich. Just the way I like em.
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Slightly warmer

But right now it´s 66 and breezy. But still the sun is out and we´ve been at the beach bar since it clouded up around 1 prior to which we were in the beach chairs. Where yesterday I apparently forgot to sunscreen my thighs and tummy which are lobster red today. Muy doloroso.

Yesterday, after the afternoon drinking, we carried on to the evening drinking which included wine with the afternoon snack and then a siesta and then wine with dinner and then 4 Jack Daniel´s each at Fusion, where there was a jazz band playing despite the chilly wind. We both had on fleeces in this bar that is only partially enclosed, like everything down here. There were newspaper reports of children not going to school because it was so cold. So cold. Hmmm.

But the weather is on the improvement plan, with 72, 76, 80, 79 for our last 4 full days here. I know you were concerned.

Mas manana. Besos.
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So far

Well, it was the plane trip from hell. AFter telling Annie my plane is on time, we get bumped to a 40 minute delay that after we were on the tarmac, there was a 40 minute delay for some mechanical problem and then when we get to Cancun, there are planes stacked up like crazy because the weather is so bad (for Cancun) so instead of landing at 220 like i was supposed to, I get there about 440 and by the time I determine her plane was also late and she must have gone on, thinking I must have gone on, I take the bus to Playa and get there about 8, at which time she was apoplectic, thinking I had been murdered or on a downed plane. She had taken a taxi from the airport for $30 but my bus was only $9 US so as it turns out we are reunited and go to Ula Gula for dinner and 3 rapid glasses of wine and buy a bottle of wine at a super mini which we can only drink one glass of and then we crash as it has been a very disorienting day.

Yesterday we wake to cloudiness but way warmer temps so we get some coffee and breakfast and hit the beach around 10 where it turns out to be pretty sunny but about 2 it clouds up like crazy and is windy and chilly (like maybe 60) so we go up to town for a little something to eat at Las Brisas (arrachera fajitas) and then retire to our room as it is now very windy and very chilly and we read until 8 when we go to Yaxche where there are no inside tables available so we eat at Media Luna which is at least upstairs and out of the wind and have tomato soup with a giant pile of guacamole in it and split a Caesar salad and their excellent bread and no bevs and go back to the room and read until we go to sleep. But we see on the way home the stars are out.

Today the sky is sparkling blue, no clouds at 730 am so we get coffee and have breakfast at Tropical and hit the beach but alas now at 3 pm it has become so windy and chilly we can´t even hang at the bar on the beach so have come to internet. Although we have already had 4 drinks and so I wasn´t sure I could type. So far so good.

Tomorrow we are expecting it to be spectacular.

Still, it looks like this. So not so much like at home (picture from last year).



I think we need a bottle of whiskey.

Plane delayed leaving for Cancun

Plane delayed leaving for Cancun by 1/2 hour

Scuulpture in Dallas airport near gate D29

Also ordered tix to see

Also ordered tix to see the Band of Heathens at the Ark in March from here at the airport. I feel so modern!

At DFW and guy calls

At DFW and guy calls from Joseph beverage In Toledo and saYs he can get me a case of that Milton Park shiraz, so I order up!

Leaving detroit almost on time

Leaving detroit almost on time but theres a two hour layover in dallas so no worries.

Random Texas pictures

Tom and Jessica at the bed and breakfast.


Sign at the Broken Spoke


Inside the Broken Spoke. Note ceiling tiles.


Jessica's mom Robin.


The silk sleep shirt I got from Robin.


Sign.


Room at the Austin Motel.


Lobby at the Austin Motel.

Dale Watson at the Broken Spoke.


Cutie Pies wagon on S. Congress.

Avocado margarita and ceviche at Curra's in Austin. Christmas Eve breakfast with the kids.

The cupcake wagon on S. Congress.

Great Room at Robin's Nest.

Bat statue in downtown Austin.

Baby posing as Christmas goose.


Anne receiving a bag gift.

Max and Jan

Poker. Follow the queen

1:40 Dancing

More euchre

Two simultaneous euchre games

Pool at the Austin Motel

Got to Dallas just fine.

Got to Dallas just fine. Plane to Austin delayed so will get there an hour late. At least i am in Texas!

Lists, lists....

Tomorrow is the potluck at work: remember to take cards for kids, gift for exchange and hummus and chips and avocados and chips and salsa, which ends up costing about $20. There's some potluck frugality.

And then get my free dozen bagels and send some to Jenks with the coffee I bought at GFT for her and a copy of David Rawling's Machine's new CD.

I have a list of clothes for the trip so packing should take about 10 minutes. Get up 4 a.m. Weds. and drive to DTW.

Last night, I unwrapped the presents my ex-mother-in-law gave me for the kids and will take that stuff with tape to wrap it back up once I get to DFW for the hop to Austin.

Bought two tickets today to see Paul Thorn at the Ark March 26. It would be fun if more people went. Consider it. Got reserved in Row D. Which is a good sign as tickets went on sale Saturday but I couldn't call the Michigan Union ticket office til today as I refuse to purchase through the heinous Ticketmaster.

I think I might be ready. How did that happen?
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Just about ready

Today I went to Delaware where my mom had up this very nice Christmas tree and many many of the ornaments we packed up when she moved. We ate at Bob Evans and then went shopping at WalMart, Kohl's and Meijer where she received two sweatshirts and a sweater and a pair of jeans and I self-gifted a fleece. Then we went back to her house and she gave me a lovely rust fleecy sweater. Which I really like.

She also told me Woes of Karen which include that the gas and electric bill are in arrears at the trailer in my mom's name. What does Karen do with her money? she wonders. PURPORTEDLY, Karen gets $1,000 a month in unemployment so why could she not keep up on these bills since my mom was paying the entire rent out there. My mom struggles with should she have left Karen but come on, what is up with that girl?? I can (kind of) understand that she has multiple physical and mental depression problems. Kind of. But she put their old dryer in the shed when she got the one from the people next door who got evicted so that someday, when she has some money ahead (contain yourself), she'll get it fixed. A used dryer they bought off Craigslist. See, this is just not clear thinking. Plus bill collectors call my mom constantly for Karen. What are these bills? Why does a 50-year-old woman not have one friend in the world? And many more questions along these lines.

My mom is loving living where she is now, with the human interaction and regulated heat and no animals destroying her furniture.

Tickets for Paul Thorn at the Ark went on sale yesterday for a show March 26. The Michigan Union ticket office wasn't open yesterday so I'll buy some Monday AM.

Tonight I made a list of clothes to take to Texas where it's about 55 in the day and 30 at night. So I can throw them in the suitcase Tuesday night and then get up Weds. AM about 4 and drive to DTW. It's not the driving up there I hate so much; it's the parking. I think I'll do the off-airport with shuttle this time. In January for Mexico I think I will do the stay over the night before deal. I'll book that now. Done.

OK two days of work.
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Now we're cookin'

An exhausting week so far.

Monday, Sal and Carrie and I saw the Subdudes at the Ark. They were fabulous. I must say the economy is hitting the music scene hard as the show was not even close to sold out. Shocking. Ate at Conor O'Neil's: mussels, salads, fried Brie, salmon and shrimp cakes. Yumba.

Tuesday, went to an Arts Commission holiday soiree and then to the Blarney for fish and chips.

Tonight, had dinner with my ex mother in law at her house. Heard all about her new romance. Oh yeah. She's 79, he's 81. More info than I needed on his prowess. LOL Also she gave me some wrapped presents that I'm sure I cannot take on the plane since I won't be checking any luggage. Maybe I'll ship them to Austin. Hmmmm. Or unwrap them for the trip and rewrap.

Tomorrow night Calico Sage for a little shopping.

My daughter emails that Tom's girlfriend has sent this message:
I've made reservations for one of the best restaurants in the world, Uchi. They only had space for the night ya'll get in town so I was thinking it's be fun to get a motel room in the city so we could have a raucous night out with out the drive home. Plus this motel is extra special and on South Congress. http://www.austinmotel.com

Plus this place is right near the Continental Club where Toni Price plays on Tuesdays (of course, we're getting there Wednesday-- sad face) but James McMurtry is there the night we're there! Ready to run up the credit card.
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Look! It's me and Santa AGAIN!!

Last night he was behind me in line at the Ark in Ann Arbor and I asked if I could have Sal take my picture with him.



I see that I have on the same sweater and fleece jacket as in the other Santa picture so this must be my lucky Santa photo opp outfit.

Blah blah

So I bought these fancy wine glasses at Pier 1 and tonight I put one into the sink to wash it and the fancy thin stem broke right off. So I bagged up the other three to return.

After not getting any cooking done Sunday, I went to Kroger tonight and made some butternut squash bisque and stuff to make chicken mole and lasagna. Although I am having cheese and crackers for dinner tonight.

After coming home from work all disgruntled, I pulled myself together and realize I should be making a gift list. It's not like I have a lot to buy, but some stuff must be purchased. Like the kids at work need some gift cards. And an ornament for the work gift exchange (potluck Dec. 22). And my mom needs an answering machine. But what can I take on the plane for my chillens?

And Christmas cards. Hmmm, I've got a ton of them. Let's see if we can get some in the mail.

Reading The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood. I always like them post-apocalyptic themes.

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Catching up

Today, Santa was at the Toledo Botanical Garden, so I had my picture taken with him.


Here's an email from Sal:

Duck season opened last weekend and we took Chuck Motley on Saturday. Didn’t BAG anything but it was nice being out there. The boy, Willie, smiled and wagged his tale non-stop (5 hours) much to our amusement. Went again on Sunday with a river bud and I bagged a beautimous Woodie. Willie did the same and jumped and ran endlessly while we were picking up decoys.

Later in the day Willie seemed to be bothered by his butt and was then experiencing muscle spasms in his intestinal area, or so we thought. Thinking he may have ingested something horrendous on the island that he could not expel, we took him to the Emergency Animal Hospital. Very depressing place. After several hours and examination and x-rays we found that he had broken his tail and amazingly, his penis!!!! Poor Willie, the best and worst weekend of his life. He is resting comfortably on pain pills in his kennel, which we had to drag out of the depths under the house.

Also this is what's wrong with the world today (from some news media blog):

“Say you’re a sports fan at a college football game, and another game that’s really important to you is on at the same time,” he said. “While I’m watching my team live in the stadium, I’ll want to be watching the other team on a handheld portable device.”

OMG I do not even want to watch one thing, let alone 2 at once. If you're watching, you're not DOING anything.

Speaking of which, I have been doing for the entire weekend and now it is Sunday evening and back to the slave pit tomorrow.

Friday night Ginger and Amy and I went to the Wood Co. Historical Society holiday gala, where we ate Korean noodles and grape leaves and tamales and mashed potatoes on stew and hummus and kibbie balls and a variety of desserts including Mexican bread pudding and 2 kinds of baklava. So we didn't make it to Polka Floyd.

Yesterday I went to get new lenses put in my current glasses frames but after I was read the disclaimer about how if the lenses or frames broke during the process, I would have to pay for it ALL, I decided to get new lenses which I hope are not Sarah Palin-ish. So I ate at the Corner Grill and did a few other things and then it was time for the radio show. After which I went to Les Robertson's birthday bash in Toledo and then went out for sushi with Stubbs and Gus and Chip.

Today Amy and I went to see Dr. Sue's photos at the National Photography Center at Secor Park and ate at Cafe Marie beforehand and after went to the Botanical Garden and Pier 1 where I bought more wine glasses. Always looking for the perfect ones at a good price. And where I shoulda bought the gift for the ornament exchange at work. Duh.

A big weekend of chow and no exercise. Good job. And 5 weeks to Mexico.

GNO was here Wednesday and it was a good turnout considering the events of the week and the crappy rainy weather. Much wine was drunken. The last guests left at 12:30. AM.
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Almost December

What a wonderful weekend. Wednesday, I went to my mom's and bought the requisite supplies for a Thanksgiving dinner which I made: cole slaw, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, stuffing, ham, green beans, mashed potatoes, rolls, cranberry sauce in the can. Then I cleaned it all up and drove home, listening to Bailey White on NPR. Had a fun evening.

Friday I sat around all day reading T.C. Boyle's Water Music. Later, we went to Kim and Jim's for cards which was a fun time.

Saturday I did some errands, went to Pemberville to try to retrieve my glasses I left in the opera house during the play (no could do) and a radio show and then had a turkey dinner with sausage stuffing and brussel sprouts and cranberry in the can. Mmmmmmmmm.

Today I put up some Xmas decor for GNO on Wednesday and bought some wine for that

Today, I uh did something. Washed, ironed, hung the kitchen curtains. Bought some groceries. Talked to Miss Annie for an hour and a half. Made some sweet potato corn chowder. Laundry. Cleaning. Greenery wrap on my outdoor lights. Etc.

And now back to work. Monday night, radio meeting. Weds., GNO. Friday, the gala at the Wood. Co. Historical Society AND Polka Floyd at Grumpy Dave's.

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the weekly rag

Well, thank heaven that play is over. I will NOT be trying out for the Wizard of Oz. My, that stuff really sucks up your time.

Another beautiful weekend, weather-wise. 50+ and sunny and not so windy. I got the rest of my fence down and stowed in the garage and moved chairs inside and under cover and took the last of the leaves to the yard waste. Made a meatloaf. Did a pilates DVD. Yesterday I did not get in my car once except to clear out the detritus. Walked to the library, visited the OSU-UM party at Martha's in the final quarter, had a lovely dinner, slept today til 9:30. Although I still look tired. Really looking forward to the long weekend. Although this week there is something almost every evening.

Going to Delaware Wednesday night and back home Thursday as soon as can be done.

Did not view the BG holiday parade for probably the first time in 20 years.

Today, I wake up pretty darn cold and after fiddling with the thermostat, no heat will come on. I start thinking hmmm, new furnace, but alas when I went to the basement, I see the cover panel has fallen off the side where I installed a new filter Nov. 1 and when it was replaced, furnace on.

GNO chez moi Dec. 2.
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Hell week almost over!

The theater from the stage and from the back.




Play practice every night, Friday opening night, tonight is over and after tomorrow's matinee, I'm free! Free! Pretty much. I still have to launch the new web design Tuesday but thanks to the kids, everything's pretty much done! Still planning to work a 12-15 hour day Monday if need be, but hey! Almost done!

Tomorrow morning I will review various things the kids made for the website and make sure everything is in order.

Today was a BEE-YOU-TEE-FUL day. I raked more. Still quite a pile in the back but I'm sure I can finish it off before it turns to a soggy slurry. And I mowed today. Now if the city would just come remove my leaves....

Also removed one sagging fence section. Need to get the other three down before the snow flies.

Thursday night I went to the ClaZel after play practice where Josh Garrett was opening for that guy from Wet Willie and they were all amazing and played their hearts out for all 8 people who were there. Sad. Barker was in town so we had a couple of bevs and when I went out to get in my car, there were 3 cop vehicles out there and about 60 people surrounding my car so we went into Beckett's for a drink and they were saying LAST CALL. I had no idea it was so late. From Beckett's we could see a rescue vehicle had showed up and various non capacitated people were being loaded in and at last I could get to my car. Got home at 2:30 so it was a tiresome day Friday with Bob the sales manager pinging into my office like a pinball asking questions. My part-timer Jen said she could never do my job because she could not be nice to a crazy person like Bob.

I got 2 books out of the library, Water Music by T.C. Boyle and Plain Heathen Mischief which I am reading now. I also requested the new Margaret Atwood and the new Nick Hornby, for which I am in waiting position 31.

Got an email about volunteering for the Holiday Parade which is this Saturday. I will be a bay coordinator, which means I will be lining up the bands and horses and floats for YOUR enjoyment. That day is also the OSU-UM game which will mean drinking and eating inappropriately. Love that. From last year's parade report: Saturday morning Amy calls at 9 and we agree to go to the holiday parade. It's 18 degrees.

Will have to rest up Friday night. Not.

And the next week is Thanksgiving week and only 2.75 days. Ahhh.

I have heard these rumors that my son is moving to San Francisco. Not that he's told me.

Jumpin' Jimmy co-hosted on the radio show today. He is becoming quite good, except for the typing, and will be able to teach me some new tricks like playing from an MP3 player for your radio show. And now I see I will not have a show Dec. 12 OR 19 so maybe there will be no Christmas show although I have some stunning new Xmas music. I'll sprinkle it in from now til then as apparently, the retail world believes you should be shopping NOW for the holidays.

The Happy Badger is having a party:
"There's a countdown to our Ribbon Cutting with the B.G. Mayor Friday Nov. 20th (1 PM). It's also the day our new sign gets dedicated. The party goes all day 'til 10 pm with bands, Fairly Handsome Band, Sarah Cohen, Estar Cohen and Corey Howe, Irish Step Dancer Lois Snaveley, Native American flute player, Anthony Two Feathers and many more. Also, there will be a book signing by a Japanese Anime author, henna by Caitlin, free Reiki by Andrew and more!"

Free Reiki. I could go for some of that. Because: "A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance and has many benefits for both client and practitioner, including altered states of consciousness and spiritual experiences."

We should attend. I need me some o them Mucklucks.

Listening to Lyle Lovett "Natural Forces." Drinking Old Zin Vines from Oak Ridge Winery. "Tall, dark, strong, sleek, bold, full, dangerous, striking, intense. Razor sharp, yet soft as feathers. Arresting, dazzling, raging, exhilarating." There's some wine talk for you.

Friended a guy on Facebook I went to grad school with, Gary Cohn.

Bought some napkins for the holiday Xmas GNO. I think this will be a fine time. Dec. 2.

Weather report from blog Nov. 16 last year: "Plus today was supposed to be eave-cleaning day but alas it's 32 and snowing and windy. " This year the forecast is "Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56." Also from last year at this time: "got gas for $1.76."
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Hell Week

Let's recap:

Renee's Halloween party was largely attended and Rod's Collision plus Joe and Bob played. Hard to believe that was only last weekend.

Then Monday it was the heinous radio meeting, Tuesday fun, Weds. and Thurs. play practice, Friday wine, Sat. Neko Case at the ClaZel. Where we astounded to find there were no seats. We grabbed a booth in the back and sat there through everything until the headliner came on around 9:15. There was no re-entry so once we were inside, we couldn't decide to come back later when we all would have been standing anyway to see her. It was sold out although I don't know what this means. She played 1.5 hours flat. She and her band were very good. I ended up getting onto a balcony but it was VERY hot up there and you couldn't see much better because the light set was in the way and there were probably too many people up there.

I had a radio show yesterday during which Jumpin' Jimmy, the new blues breakfast DJ (good luck on that test Monday) took over the board and CD players for his first radio broadcast. I am so proud. Now if he could just learn how to type....

So today it was incredibly beautiful weather so after screwing around til almost noon, I raked the side yard. But not the back. Went to Kroger and made some mac n cheese and have stuff to slap together chicken enchiladas and chicken corn chowder when I get home tonight from play practice which I have every night this week, culminating in opening night Friday at 8. So I will not resort to eating fast food which, combined with long days, could spell trouble, health-wise.

Worked on the redesign in theory for a couple hours today and have many lists of new pages to make which I believe me and the kids can slap together this week and be ready for Nov. 17. So, much relieved about that. Having a couple kids work extra hours. Last week, my full-time assistant Erin got some flu and was out 2 and 2 half days. Taxing. Hope she is better this week.

Kim and Jim are having cards Fri. Nov. 27. GNO in December is at my house. Dec. 2. Polka Floyd is at Grumpy Dave's Fri. Dec. 4.

This weekend is also the 20th anniversary at Grounds for Thought where they are having a special guest in concert Thursday, Sat. Bob and Joe play 6-8 and there are many other festivities.

K almost time for the drive to Pemberville...

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