New door installation: One day, S was tired of the old door’s color and decided to give it a fresh coat of paint. So, he started by stripping off the old paint, but that left the door’s surface rough and uneven. The attempts to smooth it out and change the colors turned into a disappointment. He tried two different colors, but each attempt made it look worse, to the point, I even joked, “We don’t need to decorate for Halloween this year.” We had the Halloween-like door for a few months, and eventually, we decided to buy a new door at SSHE. The new door came finished, but a glass door next to it wasn’t. This led to a time-consuming and frustrating process of mixing stains, trying different shades, and making countless errors to finally achieve a perfect match. Then, S had to make trims, and go through the staining and sealing process again. S did the entire project himself. The effort, commitment and determination he put into are truly admirable.
Deep cleaning: First, I started indoors: I touched every corner, closets, cabinets, drawers, baseboards and hidden nooks and crannies; decluttered and dusted…Next, cleaned the outdoor areas, including yards, doors, and overhang areas…
Shopping: S and I took several trips to outlets, malls and supermarkets, all in search of looking for gifts and everything I needed for my upcoming trip. I had rarely gone shopping in the past couple of years since the start of the Covid pandemic and my IVF treatment. Plus, being at home most of the time, I didn’t really need many clothes, especially those for dressing up. However, this trip to VN wouldn’t be only for medical purposes but also a chance to reunite with my family and friends, and recharge my energy. Therefore, I want to live a soulful and aesthetic life this time, just like I used to be. I’m excited to enjoy some precious “me time” at coffee shops. Spending time at coffee shops whether alone, with friends or for work, is a very typical pastime in VN. I can’t wait to experience it again.
Paperwork: I took detailed notes of my medical records, which were quite time-consuming, but I wanted to make sure I had enough information for doctor consultations during the trip; updated my SSN; changed my DL; sorted out 2023 receipts and arranged them in categorized folders…
Flight to VN: I had to pay $100 for a second checked luggage for my American Airlines flight to DFW. Right before checking in, S found out I would have to make a detour to NRT after landing at HND, then take the next flight to HN. In HND, I would have to claim my luggage, and the whole transfer would take at least 3 hrs in case everything went smoothly (on-time arrival from DFW, quick luggage claim/check-in, no missed buses, etc.), leaving me just half an hour before the next flight. I could tell I had mentally prepared myself for missing that flight.
S tried to contact American Airlines to switch flights so that I could skip HND and fly directly to NRT from DFW. However, since my luggage was already on its way to HND, I would have to go there.
He then contacted JAL to see if they could offer special assistance, but it was already late evening in Japan. He was very worried; unsure how I could handle the transfer alone. Honestly, I was nervous about my trip, but it wouldn’t have been a nightmare if I had delayed or missed the flight; I was mainly upset because I had made S worried. He only had one or two hours of sleep before taking me to the airport, and he had to stay awake afterwards due to my issue. However, when we came up with an idea to switch the flights so that I could travel directly from HND to HN, instead of from NRT, a miracle happened.
I received an email from JAL, informing me that I had been booked on an alternate flight to HN due to the delay of my reserved flight. It was great that the alternate flight would be from HND. I also didn’t have to claim my checked luggage. It was such a stroke of luck! I really thought my prayers on the way to the airport had been heard and Higher Powers were looking out for me.
I arrived in HN one day before my mom’s birthday. My sister’s family greeted me at the airport with a bouquet of beautiful roses. So blessed!
I had a really fun English class today with B, B and H. I had B play the role of a customer and H act as a waiter. H’s job was to take B’s order and ask, “Is there anything else?”. The game started and it turned into a hilarious pattern where every time H asked the question, B ordered more, and it went on and on without a signal to stop. The funny thing was that B had no clue how to indicate she’d had enough. So instead of saying “No, thanks!”, she kept ordering more, because all she knew was names of food. How cute she was!
After the class, I did some yard work. I pruned a compact Japanese holly, deadheaded blanket flowers, sprayed fungicide on azaleas, cleared away dead leaves around ornamental grass bushes, and watered plants. Then I cooked tahi-mahi. I wasn’t really in the cooking mood, but the fish had already thawed, so I quickly seasoned it and popped it in an air-fryer. Done! Later, I helped S a little bit with his main door installation project and then cleaned a small patio. It had been completely untouched for years. The patio was a mess, littered with broken ceramic pieces, leaves, twigs, and layers of accumulated dirt. Some wooden planks have bent and warped, leading to an uneven and unstable surface. First, I removed the broken ceramic pieces, leaves and twigs; then I used an electric vacuum to suck up dirt and a flat screwdriver to remove stubborn dirt from the edges between planks, and again continued sucking until the patio looked decent. S would transform it into a yoga spot or a peaceful retreat to unwind, or simply a place for some “me” time. It’s sweet to envision that way but the reality would probably be not fun as mosquitos definitely would not let me alone. Anyway, it’s still early to think about this since S already has a long list of projects, and renovating the patio isn’t his priority.
…
Had mixed thoughts about our marriage and the parenthood-seeking journey.
Sat, 08/05/2023 – Chores
Loaded the dishwasher and put away the dishes; did the laundry for clothes, bedding and throw blankets and ran the dryer multiple times; fixed the stair carpet by knotting and securing the loose loops caused by Sam’s and Dozer’s claws. The knots blend seamlessly with the carpet’s 3D diamond texture.
Boiled water for a drink.
Refilled the sugar dispenser and Sam and Dozer’s water bowl.
Tidied up the living-dining area.
Reorganized the pantry.
Pulled the weeds; the soft soil after the rain made the work easier. Despite the overwhelming sight of numerous weeds, I tried to be patient and distracted myself by looking at the bags of pulled weeds to remind me of what I have accomplished instead of focusing on the parts I haven’t touched. This helped my task be less burdened.
Sun, 08/13/2023 – New bed
Bought a new bed frame with a headboard and storage footboard on a bit of a whim. The store was about to close for good, and the discounted price was very tempting, but the high total cost made me feel like the original price had seemed inflated before the generous discount was applied. The bed set looks ok though quite formal while I prefer a touch of rustic charm. S agreed to build floating nightstands to add a more casual element to the room. Not sure how they would turn out but hope that their matte brown stain would create a warm, cozy and more natural look to balance out the shiny, almost black color of the bed set.
Also, the headboard’s height of 67.5″ blocked the view of the window while an ideal height I need should be 55″. S said he couldn’t lower it to that height because it would make the bed uneven due to the attached non adjustable footboard. However, he could craft new legs to bring the headboard to a more manageable level. A new pair was quickly made and installed; the original pair was put away for potential future use.
Another issue was that the new bed required a box spring, so instead of paying extra for a real one, we used our metal bed frame as a box spring. It perfectly fits inside the bed frame. S’s wonderful idea has saved us from the hassle of selling it and purchasing a separate box spring.
Sat,08/19/2023 – Daily life
My morning began with a trip to Lowe’s with S. We needed to buy trims for the new door, sandpapers, and a sponge. Since we took Dozer with us, we went to the park after that. It was a sunny day, great for spending time outdoors. The park had swings, slides, and other recreational equipment.
A swirling slide looked fun but I was hesitant to try at first, primarily due to my fear of height. S encouraged me, assuring me that it was a simple ride down. I decided to give it a try. It wasn’t scary at all like I imagined. It slid a bit but very slowly and the slide was actually short. Felt ashamed a bit but to be honest, it was for kids.
On our way back from the park, we stopped by Subway to grab some sandwiches. As we arrived home, I remembered that I had some thawed meat in the fridge, so I decided to cook it to avoid any waste. I started with chicken and braising seemed like an easy option. I cooked chicken in coconut juice and chicken broth, seasoning it with sautéed onion, turmeric, cayenne, and crushed bay leaves. I added garlic salt, nuoc mam (fish sauce), and mushroom seasoning to enhance the flavors. After simmering for about 30 minutes, I squeezed in a touch of lemon juice, which added a bit of tanginess to the dish.
At the same time, I cooked catfish nuggets by simply braising them in a mixture of turmeric, crushed ginger, nuoc mam, and garlic salt for half an hour. Yummy! Braised catfish is my all-time favorite.
Then I continued by steaming shrimp and frying shrimp heads – my favorite part of the shrimp. I particularly enjoyed their crunchy and juicy texture, and also the moment of taking a photo of shrimp heads and sent it to MK to see her “ewe” reaction. Another Vietnamese dish that I teased her with a photo of is sweet and sour chicken feet. Haha! She said she might consider trying it only when she is really starving.
After cooking, I tried to open a dried coconut which had a hard shell as its fibrous outer layers had been removed. I had never done it before. In my memory, my mom got juice out of this kind of coconut by placing a chopstick on a soft spot at the top and hammering it down to make a hole. I did the same but unfortunately, the chopstick broke, and I was left with the coconut with a broken piece stuck in the hole. S showed up and easily opened the coconut with just a drill.
How clever of me!
In the afternoon, text messages from a lady who was interested in getting free catnip from me were so confusing. She seemed unsure about my address and mentioned something about following a guy at a gas station to find her way to my house. I initially didn’t question her purpose when I first shared her my address until receiving her subsequent messages on both my phone and the app. Why didn’t she just send a text from either one?!? I started to feel uneasy about meeting her. But when she arrived, I realized my previous suspicions had been a bit overly cautious. She was nice and we had a pleasant conversation.
Sun, 08/20/2023 – Enjoyable Sunday
The lady I had given catnip and the playhouse to sent me a nice text to thank me for the wonderful gifts and shared a sweet story about how much her cat loved the toy. I was glad that my gifts were useful.
The heat in August was still scorching. I watered plants and pulled out weeds; noticed one heuchera was looking particularly sick.
Before noon, S & I went to a nearby casino. We wanted to have lunch at the steak restaurant inside the casino that we missed once, but it was closed. How disappointing! We chose buffet instead, which was quite a unique experience. Instead of the typical self-serve style, the buffet had staff members serving the food.
The food there was quite diverse. I chose gumbo, fried clam strips, and steamed shrimp for my first round, while S went for a massive meatball sandwich loaded with cheese. For the second round, I had sushi rolls, fried rice, green beans, and a delightful tiramisu for dessert. The shrimp and tiramisu were especially delicious.
After our meal, I tried my luck on a slot machine inserting a couple of $20 bills. The sounds, lights, and images on the screen were enjoyable, even though Ididn’t win.
When we were back home, I looked at S’s recent blood test results. He has pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and triglycerides. I worry about his health, especially knowing his habits of indulging in sugary and fatty snacks, smoking, and consuming energy drinks. We discussed his plans to go to the gym and find an indoor tennis court in a nearby state. It’s nice to see his intentions to make positive changes for his health.
Mon, 08/21/2023 – Lessoningrained
Today, I had a minor burn on my left hand. I handled a hot pan from the oven with a mitt, then took it off. In a hurry to continue cooking, I placed the pan back on the stove, forgetting that it was still scorching. Right at the moment I grasped the pan, a searing pain shot through my hand. I instinctively pulled it away, cradling it in shock. S quickly stepped up, submerged my hand in a pack of ice water for 15 minutes, then dried it off and applied cream, typically used for soothing the pain caused by cosmetic industry acid injections. It may have seemed like an unusual remedy, but it worked wonders. This is a hard-learned lesson for me which I would likely never forget: always use a mitt when handling a hot pan.
My forgetfulness continued. I kept boiling water and let it cool, only to realize I hadn’t put tea in. And it wasn’t just once; it happened four times. Can you believe it? I did it so many times that I became frustrated with myself.
In the evening, I pondered the meaning of life, the choices I’ve made, the paths I’ve taken, and the impact I’m making. There’s a feeling of being trapped in my comfort zone and a sense of urge telling me it’s time to take action. Sometimes, finding myself caught between the awareness of the need for change and the stressful anxiety of not feeling ready is extremely hard to bear.
Wed, 8/23/2023 – Colonoscopy
S had a colonoscopy and the operation went well. We headed straight to Golden Corral after leaving the hospital for his first meal after almost 2 days of no food. Of course, his plate was full of carbs, meat, and cheese.
Fri, 8/25/2023 – Chores
Watered plants and grass, did the laundry (clothes and bathroom rugs), cleaning Dozer’s bed covers, vacuumed the downstairs, and folded clothes. Next, cooked instant noodles for S with eggs, beef and mixed greens, boiled sweet potato for myself, put the dishes away, cleaned the kitchen, and wiped off a stain from the stair carpet. Then, went to Walmart for groceries and coffee filters (8-12 cups). Later, went out for dinner at a Greek restaurant, which I chose quite randomly with the belief that Mediterranean food rarely disappoints. The place has a unique “factory” design, offering a buffet-style service where you could customize your own meal from an array of options. Despite my initial hesitation, I had a culinary adventure with a bowl of mixed lamb, grilled chicken, green beans, rice, feta cheese, yogurt ranch, salsa, and assorted nuts. It was flavorful but I believe if I order next time, my choice would be better. S, on the other hand, enjoyed a steak sandwich with his characteristic quick-eating style.
Sun, 8/27/2023 – Fun at Buc-cees
We picked up an assortment of goodies at Buc-ees. S’s selection was filled with bold flavors – ghost pepper jerky, various sandwiches, cheese cakes, and more. Meanwhile, I opted for a burrito, dried beef and kolaches. They were all delicious.
Returning home, I stained painting frames. The original honey teak shade turned out to be a far cry from what I had envisioned, so intolerable that I decided to fix it. I applied a coat of Province 211 to tone down the color, which definitely looks much better. Making a frame is a painful task as it requires a lot of patience, details, and precision. There are so many steps involved and usually you have to wait between steps, including staining, sealing, gluing, clamping, etc. I really admire S for the enormous effort he put into this project.
Wed, 8/30/2023
Did yoga, took supplements and wore a hydrating facial mask. The mask was infused with hyaluronic acid, known for its skin-nourishing properties. It was a natural product that contained pear extract and plant squalane oil, promising to intensely hydrate and boost skin’s moisture levels.
Went to the clinic for baseline and blood tests. Thankfully, the results were positive, showing a count of 10 on the left and 6 on the right. This meant I was given the green light to begin the stimulation drugs starting tomorrow. I also asked the nurse if it was safe to use Lupron as I noticed small bubbles in the jar, which I was afraid was due to the heat during transportation caused by my broken car air conditioning. She assured me it was fine to use.
Back home, taught BBH English and then made stuffed burgers. I flavored lean ground beef with steak seasoning. Using a press, I created a patty with a hollow center to place Colby jack cheese and olives. Then, added another layer of beef and pressed them down using the lid of the press.
Next, I stewed beef with nutmegs and dried mushrooms; the kitchen was filled with delicious aromas.
After cooking, I moved on to some chores including checking the list of IVF drugs to order, folding the clothes, doing the laundry, spraying pesticides and fungicides on sick heucheras, and cleaning Sam’s litter box.
Thurs, 8/31/2023
Whipped up lunch with fried potatoes as an improvisation since I was out of milk to make mashed potatoes. Partially cooked in the microwave, heated oil, tossed them in, sprinkled beer batter and fried them to crispy perfection. Then, added some garlic salt and melted a generous layer of Colby jack cheese on top. It turned out S’s favorite dish. But actually any food loaded with cheese and butter would automatically be his go-to choice.
Nothing else to write down for today. Just a regular day of doing chores.
July was a stressful month for me. It went by crazily fast.
Fri, 7/7/2023 – Chores
Loaded and ran the dishwasher; vacuumed the couch and wiped it with a warm soaped cloth; tidied up and vacuumed the downstairs; organized and decluttered the MF room; and cleaned Sam’s litter box. Ended the day with dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant.
Mon, 7/10/2023 – A day began with troubles but ended with flowers.
Fri, 7/14/2023 – Errands
Went to Lowe’s to buy two more stepping stones for the small pathway project we were working on in the backyard. Then stopped by Walmart next to it for groceries including jalapeno drumsticks, chicken wings and a whole roasted chicken. Couldn’t help but grab two sugar-topped donuts as well. When I’m hungry, I tend to crave foods loaded with carbs, sugar and fat but my eyes are usually bigger than my stomach. Back home, booked wellness blood work appointments for the following Monday afternoon. Remembered fasting was required, then rescheduled them to the morning. I’m not the kind of person who can go without eating for too long. I usually have light or early dinner, so breakfast or brunch is what I’m always looking forward after I wake up. Anyway, unable to access wellness forms online. Would ask S to take a look at it.
Sat, 7/15/2023 – Poor baby coneflower
My newly-planted baby coneflower died due to excessive rain, which was ironic because I had been so worried it wouldn’t make it through the extreme heat. It had nearly gone previously, but with my daily watering, fertilizing, and protection from snails, it started to revive with thriving buds. I also covered it with pine needles for some shade to protect it from the intense summer heat. Then we had rain for a few days, and I got busy, which made me neglect it. Found out later that the flower had completely gone. All that was left were just the tiny short stems decaying into mud. I felt upset and guilty for my negligence causing its death, but at the same time, couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of returning “this mud” to Lowe’s for a refund, saying, “Look! It’s your plant. Give my money back.”
Mon, 7/17/2023 – Grocery shopping at Vietnamese store
Got my blood work done in the morning and then headed to the Vietnamese store. The fasting had left me so hungry that I couldn’t resist grabbing a bunch of fried carb and sugar-loaded treats. Also, it had been months since my last visit to the store, which was long enough for me to start missing the unique Vietnamese flavors. I ended up getting a variety of things from fruit, snacks to sweet and savory foods.
I grabbed jackfruit, yellow mango, mochi, coconut durian candy and durian cakes. I went on with two cups of sweet soup. One is a combination of sweet potato and cassava chunks with macadamia in coconut milk. The other, called “Chè bánh trôi”, consists of steamed sticky rice balls filled with mashed mung beans, swimming in a fresh ginger sweet syrup. I also couldn’t pass by “Bánh Cam” and “Bánh Giò”. “Bánh Cam” is a deep-fried sticky rice balls, covered with sesame seeds and filled with mashed mung beans and shredded coconut. “Bánh Giò” is a steamed pyramid-shaped rice dumpling wrapped in a banana leaf and stuffed with ground pork, egg, wood ear mushrooms, and chopped onions. The fillings of the sweet soup and savory treats can vary, but they are typically Vietnamese traditional street foods. Sorry, no photos of those as I couldn’t wait to binge on them. The other items I bought were Chinese eggplants and bitter melons. And I didn’t forget to get S coconut soda and his favorite type of bananas, which are thicker and shorter than regular bananas sold at American markets. They have pleasant sweetness and taste smooth and velvety. They don’t get mushy when overripe.
Tue, 7/18/2023-Quick, easy and delicious home-made beef
Didn’t get enough sleep, so felt sluggish throughout the day. Did yoga though. My blood work results showed everything was normal, including the LDL, though it was on the higher side.
In the evening, cooked chuck tender. While this cut of beef is called “tender”, some people find it less so compared to other cuts, which is why they often recommend slow cooking or roasting. However, from my own experience, sauteeing with the right slicing and cooking method works perfectly for this cut of beef. If you ever try Vietnamese legendary beef – which S playfully named for typical tough Vietnamese beef when he first tried it – you will likely agree with me that any part of American beef is tender. Anyway, here is how I prepared and stir-fried beef: First, sliced beef thinly. This process usually involves marinating with crushed ginger for 15 minutes but I skipped it. Next, sautéed crushed onions and garlic, then threw in the thin sliced beef, seasoned it with garlic salt and oyster sauce and cooked over medium-high heat for just 2 minutes. One thing, I cooked the beef in small portions to avoid too much juice coming out, which would otherwise reduce the taste of stir-fry. Then transferred it to a bowl and used the same pan to stir-fry bell peppers with the same ingredients. Once the peppers were done, mixed them in with the beef, tossed in some fresh basil leaves and hot peppers. Voila, ready to eat!
Wed, 7/19/2023– Chores
Tired and sluggish due to restless sleep. watered the plants and pulled weeds. Loaded and ran the dishwasher, did the laundry, hand-washed the mopping cloth. Made a shopping list for online orders, including cat litter and wet food for Sam. Next, checked leftover supplements to prepare for a refill. Grilled salmon for S but it was too fishy for him. S is a meat and cheese lover, and all kinds of fish, except cod aren’t his friends. Also, he was working and once he gets into it, it’s so difficult to get him to take a break.
Thur, 7/20/2023 – Daily life
Again didn’t get enough sleep. My right knee was hurting. Used the green oil, an oriental remedy, which gave me some comfort. Then, patiently untangled my long frizzy permed hair. Felt good once I finished. Moved on to watching some YouTube videos to learn how to trim gaura plants and style compact Japanese hollies into round bushes. Headed to Rouses to buy oysters, but then I got carried away and bought 10 cans of coconut since they were on sale, $1 each. They had preservatives, which I wasn’t thrilled about, but it was whatever. Back home, reordered my supplements. The lady on the phone took the order with a tired voice, and she didn’t sound interested or engaged. Maybe she wasn’t having a good day. Continued ordering online from the Walmart website and almost ignored changing the shipping address which would otherwise be delivered to MK. In the evening, cooked oyster soup for S, his all-time favorite, hopefully to make him feel better after a sleepless night. Finally, treated myself to steamed blue crabs. There wasn’t much meat and it took ages to finish.
Fri, 7/21/2023 – Chores
Booked an IVF appointment for 9/26. Unfortunately, no earlier appointment available. Then, trimmed azaleas and gauras, fertilized and watered plants. Noticed the bottom part of one bush of ornamental grass was turning yellow, which made me worry it might not survive. Back inside, vacuumed and mopped the downstairs, and ran the dishwasher.
Sat, 7/22 – Daily life
Did yoga, had pork rib noodles for breakfast. Later in the day, went to SSH with S to buy a new main door. The door we wanted in our desired color wasn’t available at the moment, so we got the only one left, which has a vibrant red hue. It’s S’s favorite color. We also picked a glass door, a part of the main door.
Back home, R, our caring neighbor helped us carry the doors to the inside the garage. He’s always there whenever we are in need, even without asking. So grateful to be a neighbor of his and his sweet wife. After a short break, I cut S’s hair, fed Dozer and Sam, then headed to Walmart to pick up stuff. Had a little bump there but handled it well. Back home again, headed to a Chinese buffet restaurant for dinner. I love crawfish, sauteed green beans, shrimp and fried rice there. They have tasty deserts too. I especially like their sponge cake which is pleasantly sweet, soft and flavorful. Unfortunately, S isn’t a fan of a Chinese buffet but he still goes with me, sometimes involuntarily.
Mon, 7/24/2023 – Daily life
Slept restlessly, woke up feeling achy. I used the massage chair for a full 40 minutes, even though the manufacturer recommended only a 15 min session. I even flattened the chair to lie on my chest. Felt so good that I even dozed off while on it.
When I woke up, I felt I was like a whole new person – refreshed and blissful. My muscles had loosened up, and I felt light and at ease. Then I did yoga, focusing on stretching poses and taking deep breaths. It felt amazing – I could sense the blood flowing smoothly throughout my body, and every cell felt invigorated with each move and breath. I finished the session with prayers.
After that, S and I went to Publix to find catnip for Sam. He is very picky on the aroma. It’s been a struggle finding the right one since Walmart stopped selling the one he likes. I had tried a type of catnip mixed with silvervine, which was advertised to attract even the pickiest cat. But he didn’t like it at all. Then S ordered a different brand on Amazon and that didn’t work either. So we went to Public with high hopes that we would be able to find one there. And yes, we finally found SmartyKat Organic Catnip, but we were still nervous about how Sam would react. When we got back home, we attentively watched Sam’s reaction and felt so much relieved when he seemed to like it and became playful again.
At Publix, we also got coffee and kimchi on sale, buy one get one free. It is great because we are running low on coffee and kimchi happens to be my favorite, which isn’t on sale every time I go. We grabbed two bags of New England coffee for $9.99. The names “Darkest before dawn” and “Eyeopener blend” caught my attention. However, I was slightly concerned about “Darkest before dawn” because of the text on the bag which reads “Notes of soft molasses and dark chocolate raisins.” I have no idea how it would taste but I don’t mind trying it. Honestly, though I like coffee, it’s mainly because of the comforting feeling it gives me when I sip it, instead of how sophisticated its flavor might be. S prefers simple, pure dark roast coffee, so this flavor might not be his cup of tea.
In the afternoon, we walked over to R’s garage to take a look at a desk and chair that he said we could take them for free. After considering our space and needs, we decided to pass on them. I don’t know how about you but I always feel uncomfortable when I have to say no to a kind and sincere gesture.
In the evening, I planned to make spaghetti for dinner but found out we were out of spaghetti noodles. The only thing left was lasagna. I decided to use it to make spaghetti. I boiled it and then rolled it up and cut into long strings, resembling spaghetti. I had warned S about this because I didn’t want him to get disappointed when he ate. To my surprise, he enjoyed my improvised spaghetti. He even playfully remarked, “I want lasagna pasta for spaghetti from now on.”
Tue, 7/25/2023 – Chores
Watered the plants, picked dead leaves from the ornamental grass, sprayed fungicide and threw in fertilizer to encourage their growth. It was gratifying to see one bush of ornamental grass showing signs of recovery after I had given it some extra attention. Back inside, thoroughly cleaned bathrooms, using Comet powder, Clorox wipes and paper towels. Then, did two loads of laundry, folded towels, put the dishes away, and cleaned the kitchen.
Taking a break, I treated myself to a delightful glass of milk tea with glass jelly, savoring the refreshing taste. I brewed cold sweet black tea, added milk and condensed milk and dropped in glass jelly. The taste was divine – the cooling flavorful tea blended in the milk with refreshing silky jelly quenched my thirst.
In the evening, made broccoli salad and jalapeno burger for S’s dinner. The salad was a mix of broccoli, carrots, olives, pickled cucumber, jalapenos and onions, all topped with pumpkin seeds and shredded cheddar cheese. The sauce I made for it was a simple blend of crushed fresh garlic, hot peppers, mayonnaise, olive oil, salt and sugar. Well, honey would be much better but I was out of it. The burger was stuffed with crushed jalapenos and cheddar cheese with the steak seasoning.
Fri, 7/28/2023 – Small mishap
Did yoga, cleaned Sam’s box before he would be mad at me as he doesn’t like a stinky box. Then watered grass but forgot to turn off the valve. Thought the water had been running for almost one hour. The water bill this month would not be fun. I usually set the alarm, but this time forgot to do that. Sometimes my memory isn’t good.
Begin life at forty 