A new delicious food and today’s entertainment

(Insert obligatory but sincere Happy New Year! here)

Today’s food experiment was rice pudding.  Brown rice, vanilla, almond milk, agave sweetener, cinnamon, a little nutmeg, walnuts and thinly sliced banana.  Note to self. Two tablespoons of cinnamon might be a little excessive. Also if you think it needs more milk, add a little at a time-that will keep it more ricier and less puddinger.  All that being said, it was delicious and more importantly filling without too many calories.  Also very very dessert-like. As in a tasty treat that’s fun to eat.

Daughter-in-law sent a vegetarian cookbook as a gift and there are a handful of recipes that definitely look interesting.  Assuming I sleep well and have the right amount of pep I may experiment on Tuesday.  We return to school on Wednesday.  There may or may not be children there as the temperatures allow.  Teachers now report on cold days and kids are supposed to work on their chrome books (that they left at school for the break.)

As for the entertainment-it was the greathusbandbob show at lunch with aunt and company. And the company is growing weekly.  We started as four Aunt, lornadune and Juanita. Husband joined in as did new resident Louise and Carol who usually eats with her daughter but not as much lately-possibly for fear of missing some laughs.

GHB plans some material which always feels awkward and stumbly but he doesn’t notice. While he believes everyone is entertained by the story, it’s usually his telling of any story that works for him more than the story itself.  Today’s most annoying moment was when he said "Becky, do you know what a fable is?"  Annoying that he doesn’t realize how obvious his question is (Carol taught English for crying in a bucket.) and I lean over to Juanita and whisper "they're old not stupid."

Lornadune reminds me of Aunt Agatha on Bewitched but not as dingbattish.  She’s from Minnesota and I adore her.  She’s often quiet until she isn’t and then she’s either funny or absurd- both winners in my book. 

Juanita doesn’t match her name but I’d peg her as Endora.  Especially if I get to be Samantha.  She makes a point to be at my side for the under the breath remarks. 

 Carol is definitely the Mrs Kravitz of the bunch without any ill intent.  She just hears all the gossip and knows all the stuff.  

Aunt fits in as Dr. Bombay although she seemed tired today so it might have been Dr. Bombay with some wacky illness that needs cured. 

 I haven’t been around Louise much but today when a funeral director resident made small talk with Carol she leaned in to me and said "He's licking his chops" which set me to cackling because I did not know that he was a funeral home director and thought she meant something else.

Most significantly there was no talk of aches and pains or illnesses and prognosis.  Just laughing and conversation on how that is in fact the best medicine.  Last week aunt said she had a dream that she died and I was a hot crying mess.  Then she said "promise you won’t cry when I die."  I told her I wasn’t making any promises. But there is a small part of me that thinks she’s feeling some deterioration in her wellness and thinks she is trying to prepare me.  But what will be will be.

Here’s a gratuitous cozy dog pic if you made it this far.

A list of thoughts.

Number one-  when someone dies and the funeral home has a picture montage it is not appropriate to include photos of those who are still living that DO NOT INCLUDE the deceased.  Relatives or not.  Even if you are a happily married gay couple proving a point or if you just visited Disneyland.

Number two

The high school students seemed pleased,with their mitts- but maybe I already posted that.

Number three- I don’t care how fashion forward it is or how much I like teaching music, this dress is just no.

Number four- greathusbandbob was elected Minority Election Inspector with a write in vote.  His own.  He tied with another funny man who wrote in his own name and they flipped a coin.  Not sure what the duties entail but he got a certificate.

Number five- in case there was any doubt about the sincerity of my principal- here she is making pancakes for everyone on the last day before break

And number five-  a text exchange with a former colleague who crushed hard on me a long time ago brought this insight to mind.  Everybody has the one.  The one that visits when you are sleeping.  That you’re certain, short of the unfortunate circumstances, should have been a happily ever after-the fates just got in the way.  If you’re lucky enough you married that one.  If you’re not, you’re not alone in carrying a torch for the unrealistic ideals you assigned to the "one" over the course of time.  It’s always good to know you’re not alone.

Lost In Space-season 2 for the win.

I listen to Lost in Space on the way to work. Occasionally, when traffic is stopped I get a peek at the screen.  Imagine my delight to discover that season 2 is in color and this is what they are wearing.  I think it might be velour. You’re welcome.

Winter program streamlined.

Once upon a time there were notebooks. And lists. And more lists. And xeroxed copies of lists. If 30+ years does nothing else it teaches one to streamline. Pictured here is the list of songs with page numbers. A treat from the sound guy who is also my "sub" for the day (I give him the day- he sets up and breaks down the equipment) and also works at a bakery.  Some knitting for all the time there is to hurry up and wait.  The only thing not pictured is the list of where kids stand and the Reader's Digest Christmas Songbook.

It’s 30 minutes before the show and already the grownups are pouring in to get the best seat.

And still there is healthy news to share. Pictured below you will see the short stage with risers.

Last year at this time the idea of one big step to get up there (in case of emergency) from the gym floor was unimaginable.  This year, no problem.  Next year I want my core to be solid enough to be able to hop down without fear of losing my balance-though I likely won’t do it because I don’t want to break my hip.

There is an extra pair of mittens no more.  I gave them to my millennial sound guy. He works at a restaurant.  I know he will have snow to shovel. He immediately put them on and clapped his hands and  although very manly in a hipster way, may have been heard to sqeaul with delight.  Now THAT'S how to receive a knitted gift.

Wait, this is a knitting blog?

The mittens for the students are finished.

  There is also a new 100 watt bulb for the lace that’s next.

Cashew. Gesundheit.

Make a soaked cashew cream sauce they said.  It will be great they said.  Just add a nut milk and food process they said.  I did what they said opting for fully loaded coconut milk and adding garlic and tahini.  And I ended up with a cream sauce that could compete with any Alfredo I’ve ever had.  Just a small sampling over some boiled red potatoes with plenty left to put over pasta later.

Cooking.  Have some basic ingredients on hand.  Pick something to be the main ingredient.  Think of a texture and a flavor. See what happens.

No Nap. No Pizza.

But it was a close one.  I was starving on the drive home and so ready for a GIANT double cheese pizza.  I knew I was in trouble.  I’ve also been exhausted all day which meant that if I napped, the odds of pizza would have increased exponentially.

Instead I cooked brown rice pasta in vegetable stock. Added leftover celery and carrots.  When you cook brown rice pasta you boil for 2 minutes and let stand covered for 16. That seems wrong but it turned out well.  The best brown rice pasta to date. Which I think is partly due to leaving it alone and not trying to get fancy.  Then small corn tortilla shells with refried black beans and Mexican cheese folded over and fried in a pan like mini quesadillas.  Also filling and pretty tasty. However many calories I may have eaten I’m certain it doesn’t equal a giant pizza.  Also I’m pretty sure I won’t need any Roland’s later.  Crisis averted.

I’ve taken to running on the indoor track now and again.  I even did a half mile of walking/running before Zumba last night. I’ve held on to the new number in the tens column for three weigh-ins (morning and night)  so I’m losing a little again.  Pretty close to 35 so far.

When you can't predict the future, you should just laugh at the present

Item number the one- A pre-k aide shared this story with me-  The classroom teacher told the kids that before they lined up they had to spell their names for the teacher.

T: Harrison, spell your name for me.
Harrison: B............ I............. N.............G.......O.

Can't you just hear it?  If I need to laugh that's a go-to story.

Item number the two-  GreathusbandBob filled in his own name in an office with no one running.  He received a letter last week that told him he had tied with another candidate and they would draw straws on Monday at noon.  He may, in fact, become the local Minority Election Inspector in this community that is sorely lacking in minorities. (if you click it you should be able to read it if so inclined.)  He said that next time he's going to make sure I write him in too so he'll win by 50%.

The last moment of blog hilarity involves the as yet unending saga of where the dog would like to sit.  We moved the chair.  She's happy in it.  Mostly.  Every now and then she puts her paws on the arm of my chair and leans over without actually coming over.  If you invite her to come across or try to pick her up she gets a little snappy. I ignored it, put her on the lap and there she stayed for the rest of the evening. It's better than my weighted blanket.

And finally I've moved from getting snappy during program prep to being hilarious.  Also my filter shuts off.  It should be a great week and a half.