Category Archives: Uncategorized

Thankful Thursday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, Gratitude, Uncategorized, Walking by

That are temperatures are going back up. I had to make a fire during this spell, and that is using up our firewood. I guess I need to check when I can get some more.

I’m thankful to have enough energy to do things most of the time, although my legs always give me problems. Specifically, Dex affects muscles, and my leg muscles always feel a little weak. That’s even with doing squats, weights, walking, and swimming. I just live with it and get on. I did just buy some compression socks from Amazon, and they seem to help.

Flexibility. Today is my normal walk day, but I have to leave at 8am to get to Sacramento, so I’ll skip it this morning. I may go later after I’m back home.

I have to give a lot of gratitude to Pope Leo for standing up to the orange idiot.

Menu Monday, a little late!

Posted in bread, budgeting, budgets, California, cooking, freezer cooking, medicare, Uncategorized by

First, a thank you to a subscriber who donated to my’ Buy me a coffee’. I was quite excited as this was unexpected and, of course, welcome. So thank you, very generous of you.

Last night we had nachos with beans, some beef, sour cream, avocado and salsa.

Tonight, I’m doing a Costco Veg barley soup with a cheese toastie.

Tuesday, not sure. This is my daughter’s late night, so something easy, maybe quesadillas. I still have some avocados, so that could work.

Wednesday, I have a freezer meal to use up, of orange chicken with rice.

Thursday, I think I’ll do some pasta with meatballs. I’ve been feeling like spaghetti. I have sauce I made in the freezer.

Friday, we did the takeout last week, so not doing that again. Maybe if it’s nice out, I can BBQ some chicken.

Yesterday, I went down to Mahany gym and did my weights. Then dropped off my books at the library. I considered going to Costco, but didn’t feel like it. I came home and baked the sourdough that was bulk fermenting in the fridge.

Today, I need to go to the bank and get my LLS. I’ve been putting it off, so today is the day. I might stop at Goodwill, which is in the same area.

I have some beans soaking, and I plan on processing them today. I soaked pinto and black beans, so we’ll see how it goes. We do like our beans, and especially Rancho Gordo beans. They have a new storefront in Napa if you’re in the area. I’m looking forward to going. Napa is only an hour and a half away, even a little less when there’s low traffic. So it could be a day trip. That would be fun for my daughter and me to do.

Does it ever go as planned?

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So, yesterday in the mail was a notice that the request I had for our California fair plan insurance couldn’t be processed. The request was to take Barclay off the insurance and just have me. We are both listed. So the letter says, now this is really funny if I wasn’t so pissed off at it, Barclay must sign the quick deed to release something or other???? Oh, right, did you not get the memo that HE’S DEAD!!!

So my plans today are scrapped, and I’m going into the AAA office to see what they say. Maybe just leave him on it, as it makes no difference really. But I was trying to do a few more admin things, and this was one.

When I checked with Chat GPT about the mortgage, it said it can’t be changed unless I get a new mortgage, which I am definitely NOT doing, so maybe insurance is the same.

When I originally called about this, I told the agent the whole story, B died, blah, blah, blah… well, apparently that memo was lost, so now I’ll just have to see what to do, but I’m leaning toward just leaving the damn thing as it is.

I guess I’ll find out.

Menu Monday

Posted in Blood test, budgeting, budgets, California, meal planning, Uncategorized, Walking by

I write a basic menu, mostly to keep me focused and to try and use up things that need using.

Last night was simple: beans and weenies with sauerkraut.

Monday- I think I’ll do something with tofu as I have 2 packages in the fridge.

Tuesday- I’m going to pull a souper cube of chili out of the freezer.

Wednesday- Chicken of some sort, maybe chicken pot pie?

Thursday- With the weather so nice, maybe I’ll get the BBQ out. I have some potatoes, so I could make a potato salad.

Friday- It might be a pizza night, as we didn’t do that last week. I might do homemade since pizza is expensive out, but I’d need to check what I have to make it. I think I’d need to get some mozzarella.

Saturday- TBD

I know I need some veggies and salad stuff, which I’ll get at Winco. I have some bell peppers in the freezer to use.

Today, I’m going to get the car washed and then go for a walk with my daughter down at Sierra College. There are lots of trails there, so we thought we’d give it a try. We’re planning on some sort of lunch out.

I also do sheets on Monday, so there’s that plus regular daily chores.

My son is coming over after work too, so that’ll be nice.

Simple Sunday

Posted in Blood test, budgeting, budgets, California, cooking, meal planning, Uncategorized by

I am off about timing this morning. With clocks going forward an hour, I got up at my regular time, although the clock said 6:30am. Then I went for a walk, and it was closer to 8am. So now I’m trying to figure out about going to the gym. I still need to take a shower so… we’ll see I guess.

I did a fun ChatGPT on getting my little office nook to look better. I ordered a small rug to go under my chair to help break the space up and took down some things on the wall. The pictures Chat generated were fun and helpful. Have you tried ChatGPT? I’ve used it for a number of things and it has been helpful.

I made a quiche Lorraine for dinner last night. I used the bacon crumbles from Costco. I was surprised at how good they were. I did cook them a bit to crisp up. Not sure what I’m doing for dinner tonight. I’m sure I’ll figure something out. It’s going to be another adjustment tonight. I usually always eat dinner around 6:15, so that’ll be by the clock 7:15, so not sure how I will adjust. I think I’ll plan dinner around 6:45-7, then adjust if I have to. I don’t like eating later than 7pm.

I have a busy week with 2 doctor appts and my labs. I won’t be able to get to the pool till Thursday, probably. These are just regular appts. The eye doctor is to scan my retina and see if there are any changes. That’s at 9:30, so no pool or gym by the time I’m out of there.

I need to write up some sort of menu for the week and see what I can use up. I’d like to empty the freezer a little more.

That’s about it here. The weather is beautiful, 71 degrees today.

Five on Friday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, cancer, frugalism, Gratitude, Uncategorized, velcade by

I slept ok last night, but at least it wasn’t the Dex sleep, which is where I sweat. Also, I don’t have the super red Dex face. Plus, I feel fairly normal. So the big question will be how my numbers will respond. 🙁

I have to drop off a return to the post office. It was a pair of sandals I thought my feet would like. No, they didn’t. I have terrible feet in that I have a high arch and need extra support. I guess I’ll just keep to Birkenstocks.

Sunday time changes, and the evenings will be nice, but mornings will be darker at 6:30am. That’s ok for now. I do just wish they would pass legislation to end daylight savings.

I plan on meeting up with my library friends for a quick coffee. I don’t want to be there too long, as there are some things I want to get done around the house. My one friend is going in for breast cancer surgery next week, so I want to say hi. Fortunately, it’s a lumpectomy and not radical. I think it’s been a bit of a shock as she is over 80, and honestly, you’d think by then nothing like this would happen.

Our warmer weather is back starting today. All next week it looks to be in the 70’s, so very nice. I may get out webi the BBQ and do something.

I’ve been having fun getting my orchids to rebloom. I usually toss them after they dry up or look awful, but this time I watched some YouTube channels on getting them to rebloom. I ordered some orchid mix to try and repot them, too. I have a few buds on some, so I’ll be excited if it actually works.

I guess that’s six!

A few odds and ends

Posted in books, budgeting, budgets, California, camping, cash envelopes, home stuff, Uncategorized by

Yesterday, I went to the gym and the library. I got a couple of books to read. I haven’t started them yet, so I can’t say yet, but I’ll give them a try. Then I went over to Winco and did a small shop. I wanted some navy beans and molasses to make some Maine Beans from a cookbook I have. I also got some salad mix and a few other salad things.

Then I came straight home. Today, I’m staying home since tomorrow I need to go to Roseville for infusion. I want to wash the cat blankets and do a few odds and ends of tidying. Plus, I need to mop the floors. I’ve been using the iRobot vacuum almost daily, and it does a great job. But I still need to mop. So that’s on the agenda.

Tomorrow, after infusion, I plan to go to Costco, mostly to get a few things but to cash my rewards. It’s not a lot, but it’s something, and then I don’t need to go get extra cash. I still need to fill some envelopes, but I generally don’t have too much extra to do that. Some envelopes are more important than others, such as fun vs auto maintenance. So I’ll keep adding what I can to the important ones.

I had a nice visit with my son yesterday as he came up after work. He has a regional meeting in Chico today and tomorrow, so he’ll be gone. He expressed some interest in taking the motorcycle class at Sierra College, and then he could use the Triumph. In reality, he could just have it, and I’d sign it over. Although the insurance would probably be higher. So it’s something to consider. Although I’d worry about accidents because with motorcycles, 99% of the time, it is other drivers.

We did chat about the whole camping thing. He doesn’t see the van idea working, and probably he’s right. I think after my daughter and I go down to Santa Cruz at the end of the month and I get to go to New Brighton Beach, I’ll be able to judge whether hotels may be what I do 3-4 times a year. I would like to plan some longer trips that Barclay and I never got to, and one was going over to the Oregon coast. So if we do hotels, in a way that would be easier than trailering. I guess I still miss the whole experience of sleeping in my own bed, cooking my own food, etc. Plus, waking up at a campground is very different than waking up in a hotel. Adjustments, changes, and being open are probably what I need to focus on.

Menu Monday

Posted in books, bread, budgets, California, cooking, meal planning, Uncategorized by

We did really well last week, and I made most of the meals planned.

Last night I made a chicken parmesan because I had defrosted a pack of Costco chicken. I had to run down to the store for panko as I didn’t have any. Then I made a batter and fried the chicken breasts. I cut them in half first, but it was still a lot. They were really crispy when I took them out of the pan, but after I finished them in the oven with tomato sauce and mozzarella, they didn’t hold their crispiness. Any ideas? Maybe I should have just heated up the sauce and plated it right then?? Have you made chicken parmesan, and how did you keep it crispy? I followed the NYT recipe.

Anyway, probably leftover chicken today, and I may do some spaghetti on the side.

Tuesday- I want to use up some souper cube beans, so beans and cheese enchiladas( frozen).

Wednesday- tilapia and some side dish. Maybe a macaroni and cheese.

Thursday- Freezer cube meal. I still have some chicken and rice cubes.

Friday- I might make homemade pizza, although we had pizza this past Friday, so I may do something else. I do have leftover mozzarella, though, so ??

Saturday- something easy, maybe just some sandwiches.

I finished watching the first season of True Detective. It was absolutely great. Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey were incredible. It’s on AMC, so if you have prime you have to add it. Each season is a different crime and detectives.

I didn’t read anything this week except a Mauve Binchy book, A Week in Winter. It was okay. I don’t have any holds at the library, so I might look at what’s new and put a hold on something.

I have another admin thing to do to change our Home insurance policy over to just my name. It’s showing Barclay as insured even though I’m on there too. So I guess I’ll brave the phone and see if I can get it changed. I do hate doing these things.

Like I said the other day, I’m not going to the pool because of the parking issue, but I will try either tomorrow or Wednesday.

20 years ago

Posted in Bone marrow transplant, bread, California, cancer, Multiple myeloma, Myeloma, swimming, Uncategorized by

March 1, 2006, I received my stem cells back. It’s a very anticlimactic moment that goes very quickly. One IV bag. But what it takes to get there is very involved and stressful. A few days prior, I was given Melphalan, which kills everything, and that’s what really takes your body down. Then it usually takes around 10 days for the ‘new cells’ to start to take hold.

I didn’t really eat, but the diarrhea was very real. I remember it was a very rainy and stormy March because I would look out the window, and the rain was going sideways. Barclay was there every day, bringing me clean clothes, at least bottoms. I spent 17 days there in the BM transplant unit at Sutter in downtown Sacramento.

He took care of all the hospital stuff and home stuff. What a guy!! So history, and through that and then Revlimid, Pomalyst, and finally Velcade. And here we are.

This week is my Velcade shot, but I won’t be taking the Dex. It’ll be interesting to see my labs. Will they go up a lot? Well, we won’t know till we do.

I’m so upset at the useless war tRump is doing. He’s like a madman for war or killing, or both, really. When does it stop? Where is the country headed? It scares me, that’s for sure.

I plan on going to the gym this morning. I haven’t been for the last 2 Sundays, so I want to do that, and the VW needs gas. If I’m super ambitious, I’ll go to the car wash too.

Then home stuff is bake the sourdough loaf, tidy things up, and do the LR zone. Next Sunday is Spring Forward with daylight savings. I just wish they would change the law and it would just be one time.

I know I’m not going to the pool tomorrow or Tuesday, as there was a notice up of Roseville Parks and Rec having meetings in the building, and parking was going to be limited. So probably on Wednesday, I’ll go down.

Other than that, same old, same old.

Simple Sunday

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I went down to the pool and swam yesterday. Saturdays are hit or miss there. It can be busy or not so busy. I was lucky it wasn’t a super busy day, and I had a lane to myself almost the whole time. Today, though, I am feeling it. I guess I just need to get down there more, although last week was different with the snow and rain. So I decided not to go for a walk this morning, and maybe I’ll walk a little later after I loosen up a bit. 🙂

I have a meet-up with someone I’m giving our recycling to. I just don’t have the motivation to go to the recycling place, but a lot of people still do. Barclay, of course, did all that. But I hate to just toss it in with our regular garbage, hence, I’m doing this.

I also have my sourdough to bake. This time I tried rosemary and Meyer lemon. I’ll see how it comes out. I also want to figure out the menu for the week. Last night we had a Souper Cube of roast chicken and stuffing. I made some corn on the side. It was good. The freezer is looking better. I’ll pull some stuff from the chest freezer for the week. I know I’ll do some ground beef for burgers, and I still have quite a few veggie burgers too. So maybe it’ll be a burger week!!!

My son did a stained glass workshop and made this for me. What a sweetheart!!

The week ahead looks good with the temperatures going up. We’ve used a lot of firewood this past week, so I’ll be glad when it’s not so cold.

A blogger I followed closed her blog. She’s in Australia and had a huge following, but I guess felt it wasn’t viable to keep it going. I guess she didn’t leave the posts up because AI will tap into things like that, which I know nothing about. Does anyone know if that’s true? I guess, after blogging since 2012, I still just see my blog as my own journal of what’s going on in my life. Plus, I think it helps me to write things out. I still do a daily budget in my notebook, recording what’s been spent or bills due, and I write a daily list of what I want to do/accomplish. I get my notebooks from Michaels, so they’re not expensive. I usually buy 3 or 4 at a time.

Do you do a daily list? I think it does help.