Tip of the Day

Yesterday pot roast was on my menu. I started it a little late and was in a bit of a rush to get it on. When I prepare the meat, I sprinkle it with pepper, ground mustard, and a bit of garlic powder. I’m the first to say that I’m not a great cook, but I usually don’t mess up pot roast. After all, I’ve been making it the exactly in the same way for almost 50 years.

After browning the meat and adding the vegetables, I added the water, a bit of soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce, a bit more ground mustard. I opened the cabinet for the mustard, and picked up the container I had used before. It was different. Then I looked up a shelf and saw a container that is clearly marked “Ground Mustard.” It was not the one I had used before. The first application turned out to be ground ginger.

The finished product tasted okay, but it had a bit of an Asian flavor.

Tip of the Day: When cooking, one should always wear one’s glasses and not be in a rush, unless one happens to like pot roast with an Asian flair.

Feeling My Age

I don’t normally sit around thinking about being old. Of course, they are the constant reminders of mysterious aches and pains that come and go. There is also the truth staring at me every time I look in the mirror. I do have my “magic” bathroom mirror that knocks off about 20 years. Even not being able to tell the new crop of young entertainers like Lady Gaga and all the other blonds and the other skimpily attired young women from one another doesn’t bother me much. But the other night, I looked up and the television and suddenly felt old.

The television was tuned into a rerun of “Castle.” I wasn’t really watching as usual. I listen more than anything. I was either embroidering or playing a computer game; I don’t remember which. I didn’t have my full attention on the show. Then I heard a familiar voice. I looked up and it took me a minute to recognize the face. It was Chad Everett, an actor who appeared in the show, “Medical Center” in the late 60’s or perhaps the early 70’s. The face I saw on “Castle” was an older man who was still quite handsome, but he wasn’t 30 years old anymore. He was very handsome when he were younger.

I looked him up on line and discovered that he was about the same age as Mr. Fixit. Apparently, he died shorty after he made the “Castle” appearance. The funny thing is that even though Mr. Fixit’s hair is white, and he has wattles just like me, he doesn’t seem that much older to me than he did when he was 30 years younger.

This and That

Horror of Horrors! My Kindle malfunctioned this morning about 3:30 am. It wouldn’t connect with our wireless network. All the other other computers and the my Nook Color connected just fine. Also it showed that I had no books in the archives—130 books gone! I was awake until about 6:00 am trying to think what to do.

After  having breakfast, I remembered that a few weeks ago, my laptop also malfunctioned and Ben told me to remove the battery and then reinstall it. I had tried everything else I could think of so I asked Mr. Fixit to remove the Kindle battery. That was no mean feat. It took over an hour and the  back on the unit is a little worse for wear. He finally opened it and disconnected the battery and then re-connected it. It worked like a charm. It probably will happen again, but at least it’s working for now. I love my Kindle!

I have been sick. About a month ago I developed a sore throat and a bad head cold. It took me about two weeks to feel better.  It really knocked me on my butt. The problem now is that fluid has built up behind the eardrum in the left ear. My hearing in that ear has been greatly affected, and the high pitched tone I hear constantly is driving me nuts. While I can’t hear the sounds that should be coming into my ear, I have developed this hyper-sensitive hearing to things happening in and around my head. It seems I can hear every hair move when I comb my hair, and I can actually hear the saliva flow down my throat when I swallow. Crunchy food is so loud. No more celery until this is over. It’s as creepy  and unsettling.

I went to the doctor yesterday, and he gave me a prescription for a steroid. He said it could take about 2 or 3 weeks to fix it. I want it gone now! But then, little devils in Hades want ice water, too, don’t they?

Baseball season is just about the corner. Cole had try-outs for his last year to play high school baseball. He made the team, of course. Noah is trying out for his middle school team, and he made the first cut. The try-outs for him last until this coming Saturday. Noah and Owen are playing rec league basketball now.

Today, the outdoor temperature hit 71 degrees and there was not a cloud in the sky. The car was so hot after sitting in the sun, we turned on the AC. This may be the earliest we’ve had to use the AC I think. Spring is knocking on the door although out local groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter. What does Ole Phil know?

Gone Bit Not Forgotten

Yesterday was the anniversary of my mother’s birth. She was born 92 years ago.

I thought about her a lot yesterday. It occurred to me this morning that I may be the only person on the planet who remembered her birthday. Her mother and father have been gone for many years, I’m the last of our immediate family, and I’m sure that no one on my father’s side of the family would remember it even if they survive. Her sister may still be alive. I haven’t heard of her demise, but then I don’t think any of my mother’s nieces or nephews would have let me know if their mother had died.

It’s a little sad to think that there comes a time when you are totally forgotten. As sure as death comes, so does that time come when average people are forgotten.

As long as I live, she will be remembered.

I’m Sick! Sniff, Sniff, Cough, Cough

It could be the flu I suppose, but I don’t have the usual flu symptons—no fever, no vomiting, or other disgusting symptoms that mean you have the flu.

I think it’s really just a super bad cold. It started with the mother of all sore throats and the coughing that made my throat feel like I had gargled with Drano. My headache is not much fun either.

Mr. Fixit told one of our boys that I may have the flu. He advised Mr. Fixit that we should be careful because the flu is very dangerous for the “elderly.” That just sort of slipped out when Mr. Fixit was relaying the caution to me.  I refer to myself as “old.” “Elderly” is even older than “old.” I bet he doesn’t refer to me as “elderly” again, teehee. When I don’t feel well, I get a little testy.

I tried to explain to Mr. Fixit that since I haven’t had fever I don’t have the flu. He decided that he would check it for himself. Of course, he couldn’t find a thermometer. There is an old oral mercury one around somewhere but it is probably hiding with the socks that disappear from the dryer. Anyway, he bought a digital one. I tried it and it registered 95.6 F. No fever! Hey! Wait a sec. 95.6? If Doc Robbins from CSI LV or Ducky saw that they would agree that I have been dead for at least 2 hours. My  gosh! With the petechiae in and around my eyes from strenuous coughing, Mr. Fixit could be arrested for murder if I should happen to croak.

I have been taking several naps a day. There is a dire side effect to several naps a day—terminal bedhead. Lifting a comb is just beyond me at this point.

This morning I had to suck it up and do some things around the house. My underwear drawer was almost empty, I used the last of my frozen biscuits yesterday for breakfast, and I think clean sheets will make me feel better. I’ve done laundry, made one batch of biscuits that will last 3 or 4 days, the sheets are in the washer as I write, and Mr. Fixit had a decent breakfast for the first time in several days. Now I have to do something about food for the rest of the day. I’m getting a little tired of bologna sandwiches, and I’m running out of bread. Mr. Fixit has made do with KFC, but I think he ate the last of it last night.

I haven’t felt like reading, working on my needlework, or watching TV. If I’m going to be sick, I would like to feel well enough to enjoy it.

Mr. Fixit Was a Hit

Bella’s fifth grade class is studying immigration, and she asked that Mr. Fixit (Boopah, as he is called by her and her brothers) come to school with a presentation concerning the country he where he was born and his immigration to this country. I went along to serve as Mr. Fixit’s aide. You’ve heard of seeing eye dogs? I’m Mr. Fixit’s hearing ear wife. Since he hearing isn’t the best he sometimes needs me to repeat what he doesn’t hear and doesn’t completely understand.

Bella was so poised and confident during her introduction of Boopah to  her class. She said, in part, “This is Boopah and he’s going to talk to us about. . .” I was so proud of her. She also passed around some currency and the tropical fruit that we took as examples of what the people in South America eat. She’s quite the little hostess.

The children were wonderful. They listened and asked questions politely. Some of the boys came over to me after the presentation and asked me questions.

As a closing, Mr. Fixit mentioned that he had been stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and that was a very important fact because “that’s where he met his lady (me).” A collective “Aw-w-w” rose. More than one young person said, “Isn’t that sweet? He called her his lady.” Then Mr. Fixit said that our 47th anniversary was soon. On the way out one of the boys came over and said “Happy Anniversary!” to me. Now, how sweet is that?

No Free Lunch

For those who think seniors have it made, consider this. The pharmacy called me yesterday to tell me one of my prescriptions was ready and the cost would be $234. I was a bit shocked because I usually pay $45. After thinking about it, we decided that we must have a Medicare plan which has a deductible. Okay, I pay the $234. On the way home, I was trying to decide how to stretch a dollar a little more because of this unexpected expense. It occurred to me that that the house taxes that are due before the 15th of this month are less than the $234 that I paid for a one month supply of that one medicine. Thank heaven for the homestead exemption on our home and the property tax break that seniors are given. And I'm also thankful that I have now fulfilled my deductible for the year on that one purchase.