Tommy's Cake

 My head has been busy today, deciding what to serve for our tiny Christmas party and what to make for Tommy's birthday this Friday. 

I asked him if the pork loin with potatoes and carrots and onion would be fine after I asked him what he wanted. He shrugged at first, but said the pork loin would be fine. I suggested slaw and he said no, it would be too much. Exactly when is slaw too much. We will have it, but he does not have to eat it. I want it. 

Then, I went through the ads for the week, finding a few things but nothing major except for the ham for $1.49/lb at Publix. So, my grocery list is done. Eggs still are not on sale. 

I asked Tommy for a suggestion for cake for his birthday. He did not know. When I asked about carrot cake, he was eager, "get a couple pieces." So, he will get a carrot cake or just slices. He just now said to get a slice or two, not a whole cake. And, he wants vanilla ice cream. So, it is settled.  We don't need a whole cake around here. I do have candles. 

Today, I needed a nap at noon. I forgot we had someplace to go, so I could only sleep until 1:15. UGH Then, I needed the rest of the nap at 5:15 pm and awoke at 6:30 pm. Honestly, I am napping like a baby! 

Tomorrow, we have plans, so I hope I can sleep well. We will go to Belk's and to several stores to grocery shop. I have gift cards for Belk's. 

I received the Amazon fairy lights and went to the trouble to set them up for Lynda's gift. I was fit to be tied when the remote did not work. I had already set mine up! So, I was going to have to dismantle mine for the second time and order more and return the present set. The very nice woman said to just keep them, take a refund and order more, plus they were giving me a $10 credit at Amazon. Okay, then.

The lights will still work if they are in the same area with the first set in the box. The remote works on both. thankfully. 

The remote lives in a sandwich bag. It is so tiny and thin that it will disappear if it slides somewhere, it will disappear. If it disappears, I can find it by the sandwich bag. I have one hiding somewhere for my boombox! It could have been thrown away for all I know. 

Have you seen these tiny remotes (3.25 x 1.5 x 3/16 inch)? Have you lost one? 

Have you ever just bought one slice of cake for the birthday person?

How are the ads for this week at your stores?

Friday Night

 This feeling of malaise is getting me down. The only symptom is an earache. But, I am back to two naps a day. The moment I put my head to the pillow, I am sound asleep.

But. life goes on. Saturday night, we had baked sliced wedges with the Concord seasoning, about 25 cents. Then, green beans and meatballs. I think Tommy put bbq sauce on his meatballs.  It is not original, but we did not go out for food. But, Tommy really liked the potatoes. 

I told Tommy he had to help, so he did and came and got his plate, then my dipping sauce. Other little things that I needed he was willing to do. Then, I desperately needed to load the dishwasher, so he came in and handed dishes over to a dishtowel so I only had to load them. Otherwise, I would have to walk back and forth, all the way to the stove. I got everything, a lot, into the dishwasher except for an aluminum pie pan. Maybe if I rearranged it all, I could. But, I could barely stand because of pain in back. 

This dishwasher is so large and roomy that I could put two large colanders in it along with a pot and lots of other large items. 

Now, he is scouring out the stainless steel sink and all that entails with Barkeeper's Friend. I have told him that what we can do, we don't have to pay someone to do. He is all for that. Scouring the sink is something he can do. He also knows he can scour but not cook...lol.  

Yep, that is our Friday night. And, we don't care! I was too busy all day taking naps. 

Things I forgot to mention: I had bought a cheap set of plastic measuring cups. They are plastic and the measures wore off. Usually, I can tell the measure, but sometimes not. So, I bought a too expensive set of stainless steel. I like them because the handle is a loop and can be hooked onto a spike in the dishwasher and not be knocked over and filled with water.  I have no idea what I did with the utility knife and purchased a new one. I left three behind at my house, so now I have two. 

I have been wanting Tommy to get rid of the mesh poofs in his shower since it has been ten years since he has used one. Also, there is the little spiky thing to sit soap on inside a soap dish so the soap won't drown in water drippings. He was adamant that I not wash it. Oh, and he wanted the poofs. 

On Wednesday, I mentioned once again that I ought to wash the plastic soap rest and two other plastic things in the shower, that the dishwasher would get them clean. He said, "Why not just throw them away?" Sooo, I tossed the two puffs. Two of the plastic things in the shower were actually one broken thing that is a suction cup. I did throw that away. Of course, I forgot to put the soap rest into the dishwasher as I planned. Things get better around here bit by bit. 

Amazingly, he just called me to inspect the sink. It shines so it appears to be new.  I told him that in the morning we are going to work on all these lids for the pyrex. He was agreeable and always has been about drying lids. I really hate to put them in the dishwasher. 

He is resting and then going to eat strawberries. I told him to eat the rest of them. There must be two cups left and another two cups of the juice. I thawed a gallon bag to make poke cake, but I have not had the energy. He can be so peaceable!  He ate strawberry yogurt with strawberries and a little of the juice. 

It is Saturday, and the ear is killing me. On and off yesterday the tinnutis ramped up. It went from white noise to crickets in my ear. Really, it sounded just like a cricket or two was in my ear. 

My shamrock hanging on the door frightens me. The first time it blew around, It sounded like someone was trying to get in. Plus, I could see the rounded top and thought it was someone's head. I know what it is now, but it still startles me! 

As soon as Gunsmoke goes off, we are checking to see if a church is having a yard sale.  They should start again since it is so warm and dry right now. And, it going to be in the 70s next week.

I think I will have a can of chicken broth right now. It is after noon, but I have not eaten yet.

Nappers Are Happier and More Productive

I loved this article. Now, you can nap to your heart's content!

Read it here. Then, nap! When my children were young, I napped about once every two weeks. Now, I give in more often.

Do you nap? Do you ever feel guilty about napping? I know someone out there has a napping story. Tell us. Share.

Fan? Naps

Tommy has a fan he calls "ceiling fan." it is in the ceiling, above the ceiling. I flipped a switch that looked like a light switch and the thing roared to life, frightening me so I screamed and ran away, well as much as I can run. You would be surprised how fast you can run when you fear for your life. Of course, I "ran" for about three steps. I have no idea what this thing is called. Do you?

He told me to stop turning on the switch. I had only done it once. But, he took packing tape and taped it where I cannot do it again. He used a piece of tape about 8 inches long, extending tape onto the wall. Then, he put a piece crosswise. I certainly am not going to try to remove it to start the fan again. Overkill with tape!

Last night, I could not get more than two hours of sleep. I had told Tommy to wake me at 8 am and change the tv channel to what I liked to watch in the morning. He did change the channel and put the volume up around 60 from his preferred 20. So, I could not go back to sleep as I wanted. I needed to make calls today and to wash clothes. I ate a banana and milk and sat here, trying to become conscious. When he arrived around 11:30, I offered to let him make a pb sandwich...lol. After I ate, I went back to bed and slept most of the afternoon. Even now at almost 6 pm. I feel drugged. The only change to meds are adding the levothyroxine.

I am having to use Tommy's needles for injections. They hurt going in, unlike mine. I am also bruising for the first time ever since giving myself these injections. Plus, I itch at the injection site...for days.

Chicken is in the oven and a salad is waiting to be made.

The guy who mows Tommy's grass was at it again today just as I decided to nap. Thankfully, he mowed that part of the yard before I got in the bed. The guy mows the yards of three people around here. Nice guy. He is the one who put up a ramp after noticing Tommy had trouble getting up his front steps. And, he works full time.

On the news was a report that napping at least three times a week reduced the incidence of strokes and heart attacks. Okay, got that covered. More naps each week does not increase the benefits. I often do not nap, then I nap for a few days. I have no idea the rhyme or reason of my urges to nap or my lack of them. Sometimes, I lie down and get drowsy. Today, I was sitting up and falling asleep, dying for a nap. Do you nap?

My best memories of naps involved fans. When we went to Memphis in the summer, we would visit the relatives where my grandmother lived in her own little house. I would be taken out there to nap on her bed with her fan oscillating to cool me. Her house was basically one room, with a short partition to separate bedroom from kitchen. But, sleeping in the heat in a tiny house leaves a feeling not easily described. The sound of the fan helped put me to sleep. Do you have napping memories from childhood?