Jennifer Apodaca's Blog, page 31

Friday Five

TGIF! How is it Friday again? My calendar swears it is, and therefore, it’s time to share five random things about our week!

The refrigerator is supposed to come today. However I’m writing this blog before I get the confirmation phone call with our time slot, so we’ll see. If they do need to delay the delivery for some reason, I won’t mind as long as they let me know ahead of time. That’s the beauty of buying one before our old one dies I’m just so glad to have the decision made! I should also add that it’s probably best for our budget if I stay away from appliances with all the pretty cooktops and ovens — those are appliances I can actually get excited about. But mine are just fine and I don’t need to get any fancy ideas, LOL!I use an app called Map My Walk to track my daily miles. I checked it yesterday and discovered I walked 45 miles in August. Okay I exaggerated, it was 44.91 miles :-).  And if I walked it, that means Maggie walked it too. It also explains why my knees are complaining a lot more these days, especially my left one.I didn’t do much interesting this week. I haven’t been at my normal energy level. It’s so irritating (really, I get mad at myself, like that’s helpful?). But I did make some gluten and dairy free cookies I can eat. I need to make some bread too but can’t seem to carve out the chunk of time I need.  Maybe this weekend!Biker Witch and I had coffee yesterday then shopped for fun Halloween decorations. I’m up to four now Wizard asked how many I’m going to get, and I just laughed. It was great to see my sister, but I wore out too fast which is super annoying.This weekend is uncertain, but Turbo has his first T-ball game on Sunday. If I’m not busy, I’m going to drive out there to watch that hilarity of five-year-olds first attempt at T-ball. My biggest hope is that they all have fun! All the skills will come with time and practice. I’m wondering too if I can take Maggie with me. I’ll have to ask Turbo’s mom if dogs are allowed at the field where they play. She would love it!

So that’s my five now I’d love to hear yours. And I hope everyone has a great weekend (with no hurricane action)!

The post Friday Five first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Wednesday Whining

If anyone wants to see Wizard and I going in pointless circles, you all should watch us refrigerator shopping. It’s a stupid waste of time as it’s impossible to get all we want in one refrigerator because Wizard wants a ton of ice available through the door (for legitimate reasons), and the only way to do that is by taking up shelf space.

I found one where I’m willing to give up the space, but he doesn’t like that one, and is protesting based on door shelf space. I’m like…dude what do you want?

It’s become an insane quest to find a refrigerator that has defied the laws of physics. And sanity. We shopped until we were too sore to continue yesterday.

Sigh. But we must order it today if we want the sale prices, so maybe we can stop the madness and just pick one out. Ultimately I think we’re getting the one that only has water through the door, and an ice maker on the bottom that’s easy to access and should give him enough ice. But at this point, I’d buy anything, even an ice chest,  just to make the pain stop

How’s your week going?

The post Wednesday Whining first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Weekend Roundup

Happy Labor Day to those celebrating in the U.S.! I hope you’re having a great day off!

Our weekend was good and Maggie’s was amazing because she got to see so many of her favorite people We had a really good time Thursday night with youngest and his wife celebrating her birthday. Maggie was thrilled when they came back over our house for cake. She wore herself out with her silliness.

Saturday evening Turbo and his parents came over. My big news is I scored with some gifts I had for Turbo! Last weekend when I saw him, I listened carefully to his latest interest in a show called Batwheels, and got him some Batwheels toys. I earned all kinds of hugs and kisses for that! His parents went to dinner, and we built a race track that covered most of the house, then went outside and raced monster trucks and finally ended up playing in dirt (of course!). Oh and Maggie and Turbo had a bunch of races. Maggie lost a few of those by default because she saw a lizard or grasshopper But she won other races when she stayed focused.

When Turbo’s parents got home, we tried to hide from them in the backyard, but Maggie showed them where we were hiding — she is NOT good at that game. I mean she didn’t even try, she ran to them full of happy wiggles and led them straight to us. Sigh…

Then we tried to plan a family vacation for next year…we could make a reality show out of our family planning vacations. Although no one has flipped over a table yet! We agree on a location and time, but it’s the smaller things that create the hilarity. So I’m just over here trying to remind someone who lives in my house (not me!) they can’t get their way on every detail. And they can’t control which hotel our adult children choose to stay in. My daughter-in-law at one point said, “We’ll pay for your hotel room if you stay in our choice of hotel.”  At which point my son choked and splurted out his coffee in surprise at this new twist and expense. I laughed until I cried. Then, Wizard countered with, “No I’ll pay for your room at our hotel…”

That’s when I started drinking wine. Because daughter-in-law and Wizard? They both like to win and we tease the heck out of them about it. Those two kept upping the stakes in ludicrous ways. Seriously, no one was mad and there’s even a chance we might successfully plan and execute a family vacation. Stay tuned…and maybe bring some popcorn to the next installment of “Will they go on vacation? And if they do, will they survive several days together on an island?”

Sunday we debated refrigerators. It was boring but necessary stuff. We’ll probably buy one today or this week or at least before our current one dies. Maybe!

How was your weekend?

The post Weekend Roundup first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Weekend Roundup

TGIF!! Time to share 5 random things about our week. Here’s mine:

It’s been so hot this week, I stayed inside and cleaned the beginning of the weak, and felt that by Wednesday night, LOL. Thursday I consciously slowed my pace and treated some RA symptoms and by today I’ll be fine. I suspect the humidity coming in hard then leaving also was a factor.For a Maggie laugh, she loves to run and jump onto her bed in our room, and slide it into the corner between the wall and the nightstand. She does it intentionally, and has done it two or three times in a row. It’s fun, I guess or that’s how she moves her bed. Well the other morning she ran ahead of me when I heard a thunk. I went into the room, and Maggie was staggering slightly, tilting and shaking her head. Sure enough she’d finally hit the nightstand. She recovered 30 seconds after I got in there, and once I realized she was fine, I laughed. She looked like a confused drunk those fist few seconds, and I don’t think she quite knows what happened. After that, she did a two mile walk, ate breakfast, and acted normally. That very night, she ran and jumped on her bed to make it slide into the corner again. If she does hit the nightstand again, I’ll move the bed. But it was the first time in almost a year of living here so I’m not too worried.I’m writing this on Thursday, and tonight we’re going to dinner with my daughter in law and youngest son for my DIL’s birthday. We are so looking forward to that, and I imagine it’ll be a nice night.After dinner they coming over our house for cake. I made a gluten free, dairy free cake and because of the dairy free butter, the layers were slipping making the cake lumpy and tilted. It was pretty funny, but with a bit of work, I managed to get it straightened out. My original plan was to put a marbled fondant on it over the layer of buttercream, however I didn’t trust the cake without gluten plus the weaker non dairy icing to be able to support the weight of fondant so I improvised. This is how it turned out: By the way, if anyone is worried about food safety, I washed the silk flowers on the top Turbo is coming tomorrow! It should be fun. I’m not sure if his parents were able to get the reservations they wanted at the spa, or if they’ll be here too. Either way is fine, it’ll be a fun and easy day. Today I’m hopefully going to Trader Joes and since I’m not baking anything else, I’ll buy some fun snacks there. I have nothing planned for meals, we’ll just pick something up if my son and daughter in law are here.

That’s my five, now I’d love to hear yours!

The post Weekend Roundup first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Another Dog Story

Right on the top of my mind as I write this — Florida friends, I hope you all are safe from that hurricane!

Maggie and I had a bit of a close call this morning. We were out for a walk, and as we rounded a corner, and were suddenly faced with another woman walking two big dogs. She was walking one dog on each side of her (in front of her) and the one on her left instantly barked, growled and lunged.

I reacted, jerking poor Maggie behind me. I didn’t give her a command, I just reacted to get her behind my body and out of that dog’s line of sight. Or I think that’s what I was doing — it was pure instinct and happened in seconds. It was way too close. I didn’t hear or expect anyone there, and she obviously didn’t hear me and Maggie. However, I did have Maggie at my side, I never release her to smell and do dog stuff until I see a clear path. I really can’t say if she had her dogs under control. What I do know is that I’ve seen her waking one dog — an older pit — for years and while she always crossed the street when she saw me, but her dog never reacted. Nor did he today. My sense was she always crossed the street as a precaution or because some people are afraid of any and all pits. I really don’t know.

But I guess the other dog, the one on her right, was new (she told me that), and she didn’t expect this reaction. And while I didn’t hear her coming and she didn’t hear me, I’m betting that dog probably knew we were coming for long seconds, but she doesn’t know him well enough to realize he was loading to attack.

Fortunately, she was able to wrestle that dog back enough that I could cross the street. Once I did that, she turned the dog on a street going away from us. All of which was the safest way to handle it so the dog didn’t go right back into attack mode.

I believe she was caught off guard and will find a way to handle it. If I hadn’t seen her for years consistently and thoughtfully walking her first dog, I’d be more annoyed. And she didn’t hesitate to apply real force to stop the dog, but she didn’t freak out or scream at him which would only have agitated the dog more, which I also respect. This was just an unexpected situation and could have ended badly, but since it didn’t, we both learned something so it won’t get to that point next time.

On the other hand, our walks are usually uneventful :-). There really isn’t even a message to this story, it just scared me (and Maggie) for those few seconds, but it was the first time I had it happen with someone who I think is a responsible dog owner. It really illustrated to me how easily things can go bad even with good owners if we’re not paying enough attention. It’s scary how easily it can happen.

How’s your week going?

The post Another Dog Story first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Weekend Roundup

Well there was a weekend. My bright point was seeing Turbo and going to brunch with his family. Turbo has had a week or two of virus roulette and they took him into the doctor’s on Saturday because the cough is hanging on. Um, any parents out there know this story? Yep, the doctor said he’s fine and send him to school on Monday because coughs linger. I hate that cough that lingers for like seven years, but Turbo has missed a week of school so the doctor is probably right.

But we had a really nice time! Turbo educated me on Monster Trucks and Superheroes — I learned a lot, LOL! Next Saturday we get to babysit him for a few hours at our house so his parents can go — and I’m quoting what my son told Turbo — play in a big mud pool I through that was an interesting description, but it seemed to satisfy Turbo. If anyone is wondering, the “mud pool” is located in a spa that is fairly well known in our area

Otherwise it was a weekend that came and went like most do.

Oh, and Wizard thinks like he likes the white chocolate macadamia not cookies the best. But he said he’s going to have to eat more of both cookies to be sure. My own opinion is that the white chocolate macadamia nut cookies are technically a better recipe BUT NOTHING BEATS DARK CHOCOLATE. That’s just my opinion, but it’s the right one

I spent more than my fair share of time trying to wade through freeways on Sunday and had a good idea for a book. Now can I remember that idea???? LOLOL! I think I might if I think hard enough, but I’m too wiped out by the heat, freeways and a nose bleed (probably from the heat) to think about it as I’m writing this blog. Maybe later I’ll break out my notebook and free write to see if I my mind will spit it up. I’m not actively writing, but it’d be nice to get some ideas together just for fun.

So how was your weekend?

The post Weekend Roundup first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Friday Five

TGIF!! Let’s jump into sharing five random things about our week. It’d be helpful if I could remember things that happened this week   Oh well, here’s mine:

Yesterday, I made the batter for the white chocolate macadamia nut cookies. I’ll bake them today (I refrigerate overnight). I also baked sourdough and generally found ways to make myself tired because I see to have two switches: Lazy or Nonstop, LOL.The chocolate chip cookies I made are good, but yesterday my stomach sent out some surrender messages. Wizard tentatively said, “You think it’s the cookies?” I sad-faced him so hard. Of course its the cookies, but can’t I be in denial just a bit longer? Does he need to say it out loud? This is a easy fix, if I want cookies, I just make some that I can eat and I’m good. I’ll make some cookies I can eat and be fine. I’m just glad that I can eat special things now and again and it doesn’t usually bother me. The white chocolate ones don’t really tempt me as much.I got my hair done yesterday and my hairdresser said she’s leaving. Dang it, this is like the third one in a few years. But I’m happy for her as she’s moving to another part of the country where she can do more of her hobby of barrel riding.This is the time of year when I (and probably most others) get really tired of the heat. And totally not connected to the heat, but I’m dropping it in here anyway: I need to teach myself how to manage and update my website and deal with my blog, but I don’t want to. I just don’t. Once years and years ago, I was able to do some of it, but then I got busy, happily hired professionals and forgot everything I knew. I’m whining, resisting and procrastinating with every fiber of my being! It’s not even that I’m not even that I’m not capable of learning it, I just don’t want to.The plan this weekend is that on Saturday Wizard and Youngest will go to his brothers while I get some things done here. And Sunday, Wizard will go racing and I plan to go out to see Oldest, Special K and Turbo. I haven’t done that in so long, and sometimes I really love going by myself. Wizard loves going by himself once in a while too :-). I’m looking forward to a nice low-key day.

That’s my five and now I’d love to hear yours! I hope all of you have a great weekend!

The post Friday Five first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Quirky Maggie Wednesday

Maggie is developing some interesting quirks.

So now at night, I suddenly feel the bed shake, open my eyes to see two little paws and two eyes staring at me.

The first time this happened, I figured she had to go outside, and took her to the door. She declined and wanted to wake up Wizard. I told her to no and to go back to bed, so she did. I didn’t hear anything else from her that night.

The next night, she did it again. Standing at the edge of the bed so I can only see her two paws and eyes staring at me. And I swear I could hear her whisper, “Mom, is it time to get up? Is it? Huh? Can we get up?”

So of course I answered her (or I answered the voice in my head, it’s hard to tell the difference in the middle of the night, LOL), “Go back to bed.”

“Okay,” (again that might be one of the voices in my head I’m hearing and not Maggie actually talking) and she sinks down out of view like she’s melting and goes to sleep. I don’t hear anything out of her until morning.

She’s repeated this every night for a week or so now. She doesn’t seem upset, agitated or appear to needs anything. Maybe she’s just checking in, or maybe I’m talking in my sleep and she’s checking on me? I don’t know. It’s not bothering me since she goes back to her bed and seems to go to sleep. In the room, Maggie has a dog bed with a blanket and another spot for her beloved comforter. She goes to sleep in the dog bed, and when I get up, she’s in the comforter. It’s the same routine each night. I’ve learned not to ask why with Maggie, she’s just special :-). Part of me really does think she’s just getting older and a bit more quirky. She’s a little more tired these days, but still does zoomies and walks around 10 miles a week with me. Her appetite is good and I’m not seeing a sudden escalation in separation anxiety or anything else concerning.

She’s just a funny little dog.

Here she is working hard while I’m in the office writing the blog:

How’s your week going?

The post Quirky Maggie Wednesday first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Weekend Roundup

I’m writing this around 6;30  pm Sunday night, and so far, all is well with us. We’ve had a good amount of rain from Tropical Storm Hilary (formally a Cat 4 Hurricane). So far we haven’t had much winds, but the tropical storm has just officially passed into CA in the last hour or two. The good news is all our drains are working well so far and we are very happy about that.

The only concern is the hills behind us, but it would take a pretty significant event to bring any of that down, or send down floods of water. The secondary concern is winds which are just really starting in the last hour. Hopefully they won’t be too bad.

It could be a boring night or an interesting one

Due to the storm, Wizard and youngest cancelled the trip to see Wizard’s brother. So I only made one of the cookies I was planned. It’s a chocolate chip cookie and it’s a big, heavy beast of a cookie. Very thick with hills of chocolate chunks and valleys lined with roasted walnuts. Delicious but heavy. In my always-trying-to-be efficient brain, I doubled the recipe. That was crazy as it was then too much for my stand mixer, LOL! I had to whip up the wet ingredients in my mixer, then get out my giant bowl to transfer the wet ingredients into, then fold in the dry ingredients, and finally add in the chopped chocolate and walnuts. It was quite a workout on my arm, neck and shoulder. The recipe called for loosely shaped 6 ounce dough balls. That is just too big for what I wanted, so I made the cookies 3 ounce and was happy with that size.

Overall I’d reduce some of the egg yoke in there (that’s in addition to whole eggs ), and maybe a touch more salt because with so much chocolate, salt really balances it. But the cookie is very good if you want one you can sink your teeth into.

Also, the Trader Joe’s thick, dark Belgium chocolate I chopped into uneven chunks for that cookie is a game changer. That’s going to be a staple in my cookies if I can get my hands on the chocolate (the TJ is an inconvenient distances from my house — which is what we call first world problems, LOL)

So now have cookies on my counter, more in my freezer along with another dozen and a half unbaked dough balls ready to be thawed and popped in the oven. I’m set if I run into a cookie emergency

I’m going to try the white chocolate macadamia nut ones this week sometime.

Weirdly it’s been a really nice weekend, despite a little uncertainty about the storm. Let’s just hope it doesn’t get serious overnight here, and that everyone else in the storm’s path is safe.

So that’s my weekend, how was yours?

The post Weekend Roundup first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Friday Five

TGIF!! Time to dust off our imaginations and come up with five random things to share about our week. Here’s mine:

There’s a Cat 2 hurricane heading for Southern CA. Um…what??? I heard that and thought it was a joke. It is expected to downgrade significantly before hitting land (assuming it does). However apparently strong winds and heavy rains are likely. Okay…not weird at all for So Cal in August. Mother Nature, is it possible you’re having a stroke? You might want to consult a medical professional like immediately. Just saying…I feel I need to point out that I’m not excited by refrigerator shopping. We went out yesterday to get started. Our current fridge is okay, but very old, so we budgeted for a new one before we get in a situation of the old one going out. And since we know some people are experiencing delays in getting things delivered, we’re figured we’d better get on it. I found one I really like, but then Wizard went and ruined it by making a valid point about the ice maker. The upside is as long as the old fridge hangs on, we are not in a rush and I can figure out the best option in our price range that satisfies us both.So the other day I came went into the kitchen after doing some yoga, and Wizard was making himself some breakfast. I’m innocently drinking water, when he blurts out, “When did I start looking like a walrus?” I choked so hard. Then laughed — not at him as he does not look like a walrus. But the sheer randomness of that comment totally undid me. He’s been frustrated this week with some of the limitations that come with the years which I can understand and go through too — but I can NOT figure out how he decided he looks like a walrus. Or why he chose a walrus. I mean I have so many questions, LOL! I did reassure him once I caught my breath,   I’m not mean just easily entertained!I don’t think I ever mentioned this: Remember I had an infection that was causing nose bleeds? Well my doctor wanted me to see an ENT. I called the  ENT, and the very first appointment they have is in early November. I’m just shaking my head. Oh and I was nice to them, I believe they are really that booked as most specialists are in our area, but I keep thinking about people with a more urgent need to see an ENT. As for my stuff, it can wait but I’m  still grumbling on the inside because I’m always impatient to just get things like that done and off my mind. However, my x-ray came back fine, and we stopped the bleeding, so no one is worried. This is like a common sense follow up as some of the symptoms have persisted. But who knows, by November the remaining symptoms could be gone and the wait will be a win for me.This weekend’s plans may be affected by — and I can’t believe I’m saying this — the hurricane (yes, yes, I know it will lose power and we’ll be fine, but this is so weird to me). Right now I’m planning to make two kinds of cookies — chocolate chip with walnuts and what white chocolate chip macadamia nuts from new to me recipes that are supposed to be dupes of the famous Levain bakery in New York. Then Wizard and youngest are planning to go to see Wizard’s brother to help out with a small project, and I’ll send some cookies if they come out. If they do not come out, then there might be two hurricanes in So Cal because baking ingredients are getting crazy expensive in my humble opinion! Just kidding, my opinion is never humble, LOLOL!

That’s my five, now I’d love to hear yours! I hope everyone has a truly wonderful weekend as we all deserve it!

The post Friday Five first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.