phyncke

It is a beautiful day here in sunny California. Slightly cool and sunny. I took a walk this morning first thing. My friend M**** and I like to walk on Saturday mornings and talk on the phone. She lives on the other side of the country and we can keep up-to-date that way. It is nice and we both get exercise. We took a little break from it for some weeks but now that it is Spring we can get back to it and do our weekly walk. It was nice this morning. I chose to do an easier, level, walk. I usually do a hill walk up to the historic hotel in Berkeley but chose to do some streets near my house and not be so strenuous. It was just good to be out there walking so I took it easy and got some steps in. It was not too daunting and when I feel up to it - I can do the hilly walk. I will get to that later.

So my car - it is not good news. The transmission service did not fix the problem so they have to see what needs to be done. Either a rebuild or a used transmission. The tech thought a rebuilt transmission. That can cost some money so I have to see what it will be and see if it is worth it for this car. I love the car - it is fun and peppy to drive. I am saving my stimulus funds towards this and will see what happens. Thank you, Joe Biden.

Seems like you go along and something has to happen to derail you - something always comes up. I am still dealing with vet bills for both Teddy and Bear but I have the payment schedule set for those and will be able to get those paid off before the medical credit card starts to charge interest. So that is good. Very glad about that. I did the numbers last night. I had thought I needed to use the stimulus funds for that but I don't have to. So that works. It helps to plan things and it makes me feel better to have a plan.

So that is me this week - dealing with the car and financial things. I have Monday and Tuesday off this week - they suggested we take time off during Spring Break so I did. I am doing some medical things - blood tests and mammogram that I have put off due to the pandemic. Better get those done and I will go in for my check up once I have those done. So getting that done.

Anyhoo - that is it for me - I am getting a burger tonight - at True Burger in Oakland, CA. The deliciousness. I love a good burger.

Hope you are well there. Stay safe and healthy.

PS - I am considering getting a paid account on DW here and wonder if anyone has one - trying to see if it is worth it. I am wanting more icons here and have been posting more. Let me know what you think - let me know if you pay and if you find it is worth it. They won't let you add icons to a free account.

So for dinner, we used the second of our coupon deals - this one from Living Social. We had Ethiopian food. I have never had this and it was quite a good experience. You don't get any plates or utensils here. They serve the food one one big plate, kind of like a buffet thing of all the delicacies and then you eat it with this very flat, spongy bread which is absorbent. What I did was use the bread to pick up the food - I took small pieces of the bread and wrapped it around the meat or veggies and then dipped it into the sauces. Total win on this. We ordered what I consider to be the "beginner's special" - we did a veggie sampler and a meat sampler. The food is kind of mild, yet flavorful and spiced at the same time. Good flavor yet not overly spicy as in hot. I really enjoyed the food. We got a pastry, meat appetizer and finished the meal with a baklava. Below is a picture of the samplers which were all served together on one plate.



Tomorrow we are going to the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito and then on a harbor cruise sail boat trip at sunset. Lots happening then. Woo.


by fission at alchemey

Hawaiian pizza with mandarin oranges. So good! Extreme Pizza of Oakland.




by yueshi

Fresh brewed chamomile tea, let it cool to just about room temperature and then ice it (as in iced tea). I had iced (mint) chamomile tea at a restaurant and it was delicious and recreated it at home. It is a nice night time cold tea drink that won't keep you up til all hours. Most iced tea is caffeinated black tea and will keep you awake. Today I had a friend over for dinner and TV show and made a small pitcher of the tea and she loved it. She cannot drink caffeine so that worked well. I also use this agave liquid sweetner (just a tad) that I got at Trader Joe's for a hint of sweet (hardly any).

Just a little tip that I thought I would pass along.


I made this

Someone says in the supermarket (to the butcher):

'I was just admiring your sausage!'

And your mind does all sorts of crazy things with that and you have to stifle the laugh. I think the butchers got a good chuckle at that. I heard them talking after the lady left. All sorts of "sausage" jokes there.

I tell you. I write too much naughty fiction or something. LOL.

I have been home this week with a bad back. I am finally starting to feel better now and will return to work tomorrow. I am so far behind there but when you have to rest, you have to rest. I did have the sick time accrued so I am good there. I overdid it helping my friends move last weekend. Oopsie.

I did have a really nice meal today at the French cafe, Bateau---beef bourgignon. Really nice. I had never had it before and it was very nicely done here. Thoroughly enjoyed that and at every last bite. Clean plate club, me!

That is all I have. I hope everyone is well and doing fine this week. April 1 tomorrow!


by jovi_diva at frozensugar

Today's Post (3)

A really delicious home cooked lunch (breakfast).

Scrambled eggs, sausage and an english muffin with home made jam.

Simple flavors can taste the best. They are distinguishable and delicious. I am thankful for the means to make, ability to put this on the table and the taste of this.

That make life grand.

This morning, I was eating my cereal at my desk at work and the doorbell rings. Mild huff at the inconvenience of getting up in the middle of my brekky and there at the door is my old friend BV. He used to work at the Division years ago and moved to Hawaii and onto better things. We sat around shooting it for a while and I got the update. I just think about how far he has come. I mean, this guy was working here and living out of his car, showering at the gym and he is doing great...courted by a terrific company in SoCal. I am just so happy for him. I remember how close to the edge he used to live and now he has wife, family and ample means. He reminded me that I used to help get him clothes and food and that he never forgot that. We held him together back then and now he is great. Gosh. Getting teary just thinking about it. Wow. He is on Facebook so we are going to keep in touch there. Awesome.

Then on my way home, I realize that I have had a whole in the pocket of my favorite coat for about a year now. This is my JJILL coat and it has a faux fur collar and I loves it. So as I approach F*** the Tailor, light dawns and I figure out that I can have him sew the pocket for a small fee and it will be all fixed like new...well better than new as he is a really good tailor. The seam would hold and the coat might disintegrate around it... So, in I go and he examines the coat in that critical way he has...

"Coat has no lining, this is good. Can do right now."

Magic to my ears and it will cost two dollars. Two dollars that I don't have...so he tells me I am good for it and can pay him next time I am by. He did not want me to run it on my credit card as the fees would cost more than he would make. I thought that was nice of him and I will stop by this weekend to pay. Coat fixed. I so happy.

Oh and turkey enchiladas at the deli. Yayus. Ready for me to take home.

It's the small things. Happy weekend all.



by izabeth at juicy_grapes

Since I am on someone else's wireless network today and paranoid about them tracing me doing naughty things, today's buns are G-rated and of the edible variety. He he he. Just for something different. It is still Bunday but with a twist. Some people find food sexy, eh?

( Yum, yum.. )

*giggle*

So it was a typical mid-week blah until I decided to go to the Roach Coach. Yep, that's right. The divey little mexican stand in front of my building here at work. They have kick ass food and awesome enchiladas verde with no payback later. Mm mm mm.

In the interest of chronicling every little miniscule moment of my life, I took piccies for ya. I KNOW you want to see them.

( Roadside delights... )

And larian: I will post the piccies of that car. I just need to get my *bleep* together. Heh. I am so behind in my picspam.

Word.

I am loving this Basque thing....

Post over Sunday morning coffee. Ahh the marine layer. Houston, we have a fog bank. It is rolling off the hills and it is nice and cold right now. I love that. Our own natural air conditioning. It did not really get hot here yesterday. It was in the low 80's so not that bad.

( My meanderings yesterday and other things... )

Thanks for listening to my long ramble. *snort* I thought this would be a short post.

I put that all behind a cut since it got longer than I expected! :)