Jonathan Returns

 

Oh LOOK ... sunny California is actually SUNNY today!  Not only are the almond trees blooming, but every other tree on the planet is coming out in style with their allergy causing blooms.  Most everyone I know is coughing and nose blowing.  On the other hand, they are GORGEOUS! 

Our walk didn't last very long because I took Mr. Cooper with me.  He's not into walking these days because snacks in the kitchen taste better!

Back in the house, I turned the TV on.  What the heck is that noise?  After fifteen minutes of searching and feeling the wall where all the cords come out resulted in nothing, I finally touched the back of the TV.  Hmmm maybe I need to dust back there once in awhile.  I grabbed my Dustbuster ... a VERY bad idea.  It's small ... and the exiting air from the back hit the wrong spot on the TV and blasted me with dust bunnies worse than under my bed.  Cough cough spit!  No kidding!  I made the biggest mess!

Apparently it's the fan on the TV itself trying to cool it off.  This is a Sony television, one of the first LCD screens to be made.  Why do I still have it?  Because it cost a small fortune 24 years ago.  Amazing that it has lasted this long.  Cleaning it did nothing for the noise problem, so I'm guessing it's on its last leg.  I have a Smart TV replacement from the Arizona house, but I'm not sure I'm smart enough to hook it up.  There are eight wires coming out of the wall.

Cooper helped!!  Speaking of Mr. Cooper, he requires arthritis pills, along with allergy pills to keep him from chewing his feet off.  It's a good thing I love him so much because they cost four times what MY pills cost.  Time to go pick them up from the Vet, which is why I'm so cheap about everything else in my house.  It was a whopping $425 for six months of both medications.  YIKES!!  

Out the door and back in the truck, I remembered Jonathan.  I don't know why I said yes when they asked me about cremation.  I went back inside to gather his remains.

So here he is in this little box.  There were several cards included, which was very nice, but what do I do now?  I've heard of folks dropping off their husband's ashes all across the country.  Maybe I'll do that with Jonathan!  This is awkward, so let's get on to something else.  I mean really, my first thought was to toss him off a cliff like he was flying away.  I think he would have enjoyed that!!  Anyway ...............

Kitters has found a new parking spot with a better view.  She has finally gotten over the "I'M STARVING" part and only grazes here and there.  She's a pretty smart kitty to get the doggy door concept.  Last night she came in yet again.  It's the going out part she has not grasped yet.  I need to work on that since I'll be gone for three days at the end of the month.  I'm sure she will want to stay inside.

And then THIS happened yet again.  The metal clips (there's one on the left hand side) have rusted off right where they connect, releasing the light from its preferred location.  The problem is there are TEN of these lights on the patio and side wall ceiling.  

I called an Electrician to replace ALL of them.  They will be here Monday.  Then I thought maybe they could just replace the clips instead of the entire light.  I found some online, but really don't want to be hanging off the top of a ladder trying to fix them.  I'll call early Monday and see if they can replace just the clips.

Though I was really looking forward to shrimp scampi, dinner was cancelled.  Someone trying to lose weight with those shots, ate WAY too much at the Elks Lodge dinner and was so miserable by Friday that she begged to stay home.  Starving yourself all day, only to eat too much at night is a bad idea.

That actually worked out for me since I had a beautiful pork loin to roast.  I packed up the leftovers in small containers, making 8 meals I now don't have to cook.  Throw in some frozen vegetables and dinner was served.  That's the perfect diet meal for me!!

It didn't take long before everyone was passed out on the couch.  Mr. Cooper is doing very well with only two small steps up.  Me on the other hand ... I added yet another blanket to MY seat and have to be very careful of my knees when getting up.  I slammed them into the coffee table one too many times.

This morning I'm heading out to a new quilt shop I found a few towns away.  I'm hoping they have the color I need for the binding on that Veterans Quilt.  He stopped me at the lodge the other night and asked if it was done yet.  So now you know what I'll be doing the rest of today.

SPECIAL OFFERS

 I think I'm getting too old for these 4 am mornings.  If only I could fix my internal clock.  At least in a few short days we will be back on Arizona time, so in spite of my sleeplessness I can SAY I got up at 5:00!!  Once again, Kitters must have come through the doggie door because I do NOT remember letting her in.  

It's chilly this morning ... back down to 42 degrees.  Still not bad as temperatures go.  The wind however, was BIG.  Most all day long it howled around the house.  That was almost enough to make me cancel the walk/run I had planned.  I went, but it's just not fun trying to run against a 20 mph wind.  It's not fun WALKING against one either, try as I might to go in the same direction it was blowing.  

Back home, I picked up the mail.  That's always a lesson in trash.  The good news is I got a message from the Quilting Company that my Chuwi computer had been repaired so I can get back to quilting.  DO NOT buy this brand.  Every single one sold three years ago, had the battery swell up and break open the case.  

I have a bad feeling about this.  I think they changed the software, meaning I will have to learn the entire thing all over again ... AND ... I'm pretty sure when they did that it deleted all of my PAID FOR patterns that I can no longer get.  There were at least 50, with a price tag of $15-20 each.  We shall see on Saturday when it arrives.

Next up, a letter from Sirius.  When I got the van, I got a Sirius subscription for free.  It was crazy hard to navigate through all the programs, books and music.  Just give me two cowboy stations and I'm good!  Well that FREE programming just turned into a $385.00 a year investment.  NO THANK YOU.  I called to cancel.

They specialize in frustration ... AI frustration ... that doesn't know what the word REPRESENTATIVE means.  In ten seconds, I was screaming it into the phone.  Finally a real person answered.  I told her to just cancel it ... when low and behold ... WAIT, I can get you a SPECIAL OFFER.  Yup ... here we go.

The first one was for streaming and music for $130.00.  Nope.  Oh wait ... here's one for $120.00.  Nope.  We finally ended up with $85.00 for the year.  Quite the difference there, no?  Yes the S is missing because this image came from the internet where you can go to JAIL for downloading pictures.

With that all set up, I tried to nap a bit, but it was not happening.  More accounting work ensued until it was time to get gussied up for the Elks Lodge meeting.  It was Old Timers Night.  I think they gave away over 50 pins ... the last one for being a 70 year member.  Yup ... he was 94 years old.  WOW!   Oh look ... I'm wearing Levis and boots!!!

That's not allowed in the lodge room ... as a Trustee, I have to wear the OUTFIT or I will get fined.  Not that I have EVER paid the fines.  This time I said NO.  I just wasn't feeling it.  In fact, I was SO not feeling it that I wasn't going to go at all, but the Bingo King talked me into it, mostly so he can take a break for a beer while I sell dinner tickets.  

It was a HUGE crowd on this night ... I sold 172 dinner tickets, not counting the 15 kitchen crew who cooked everything.

I forgot the plate picture, but here's the leftovers.  Green salad (not shown), New York steak, baked potato (cooked a tad too long), green beans with tomatoes (I ate them), a roll, and ice cream for dessert.  All for $20.00.  I think the biggest benefit of being an Elk is the food!!  These lodge night meals are served twice a month.  Next week it will be corned beef and cabbage with an expected crowd of 200.  Yes, it's that good.

 I'm pretty sure they were all shocked when I got up and walked out the door instead of up the stairs.  I'm rather tired of the rigamarole and too many days of always being there.  They will get along just fine without me.  Even the bartender was shocked as I waved goodbye!

And so it's Friday.  I know there are several things on the list for today and tomorrow, but I can't think of what they are at the moment.  Oh wait ... yes tonight I have been invited to dinner ... at the Elks Lodge.  It's okay though ... that shrimp scampi is worth the effort to get out the door.

Phones, Frustration and Fryers

 GOOD MORNING from sunny California.  Do I sound all chipper?  At least I'm better than I was yesterday.  Good grief that Bingo took it out of me, or maybe it was Mr. Cooper getting hurt.  I was a mess all day long.

This early morning surprise helped make Nancy a nicer person on this day.  This is not a sunset ... this is a sunrise!!

We don't see many of these beautiful mornings at all.  They surely can uplift your spirits.  The good news is Mr. Cooper is doing just fine today.  

We were rudely interrupted by the gardener who I completely forgot about.  It's not always good that he comes very early on the morning after Bingo since I'm not in the mood to "gussy up" for company.  Nor do I want to scare him away completely with my gorgeous morning LOOK.  It was pay day, so I went money in hand to be sure he didn't run away.

Here's the fabric I found at the quilting store, along with a new pattern.  It looks complicated, but was a class not long ago, so I can always hit up the teacher if I get stuck.  Not your Grandma's fabric, that's for sure.

I tried to sleep for a bit, which lasted about an hour.  I've added yet another blanket to my side of the couch to soften the springs.  Mr. Cooper makes it up and down now with no problem or hesitation.  Kitters isn't sure WHY her cushion is missing, but is drawn behind me and into the back cushion overhang.  She likes to hide, this one.  

The most amazing part ... after a couple more lessons, she went THROUGH the doggie door last night to get out.  YAHOO!!  I of course wake up from the noise, but I don't have to GET up.

At noon I had to head out to accounting work.  I was met with lots of frustration and loud noises from all the problems that are arising due to not only tax season, but property tax season.  A huge business has lots of equipment to put on the unsecured tax roll, and lots of taxes to pay.  Add to that the business of setting up a trust, and you have irritation overload.

I did my best to calm the storm before my gal came in.  Luckily she is familiar with much of the inner workings of big companies.  Three hours later we left smiles in our wake.  I totally get the frustration part.  Not knowing how to address stuff can be daunting.  Again, please let your spouse or your kids know what's going on if you have a business.  

I spent another hour trying to set up the bosses email accounts on his phone.  IPhone has changed the way they show up.  I discovered that about a month ago when I accidentally deleted every email I needed to keep.  There's nothing worse than looking for an email you KNOW you got, but can't find. 

Instead of being at the top of the list, you now have to scroll down to ALL EMAIL.  Oh look ... there's the one he was looking for with all the information for the accountant!  Not finding things like that can make for a very ANGRY person ... me included.  Add to that the ARCHIVE crap ... sorry, but that's what it is in my book ... and everything goes off the rails.  Frustration is a BAD thing.  If you go to ALL EMAIL, you can actually DELETE the ones you do not want.  My job is done.   

And so ended another work session as I breathed a big sigh of relief and headed home.  I've no idea what I did ... I think it was a yawn induced coma the rest of the day.

For Sue ... here is the InstantPot air fryer I use.  This one will fit four boneless chicken thighs or lots of fries.  I just learned to take that bottom thing OUT because it's very hard to clean.  The inside may be 7" or so square.  It's plastic, so there was a little plastic smell at first.  This is what I air fried the chicken thighs in.  Bone-in - 15 minutes, turn, 15 minutes more.

This is my BIG one when I was cooking entire packages of bacon at one time, wings for Super Bowl, roasts or pork loins.  This bad boy will do everything.  The insides lift out so it's an easy cleanup.  All metal and no smell.  You can roast, air fry, bake, dehydrate ... anything you want.  Same with the little one, but this one is much bigger.

Dinnertime came around and I wasn't feeling it.  A late lunch of the last piece of chicken was still sitting in my stomach, so I finished off the bag-o-chips-pieces.  What a surprise to find this bag full to the brim.  No air was paid for this time.  Unfortunately, all that was left was crumbs which I ate with a spoon.  Waste not, want not.

And so ended a fairly nice day of feeling accomplished.  Any day I can be the voice of calm and reason, and make someone smile is a good day in my book.  That's actually rather rare, because it's usually me going off the rails over my stupid PHONE!!  Not only did I help the boss, but my bookkeeper girl learned something new too!!  Now maybe those 5,460 emails on the bosses phone will actually be deleted and disappear instead of living forever on his phone.

Spring is here ... have a GREAT day!!  

FULL MOON ECLIPSE BINGO!

 Could there be nothing worse on Bingo night than a full moon with an eclipse?  NO ... no there could not be!!  It started out not so good and got worse as time went on.

So here we go ....... the very end of the eclipse as the moon fell down behind the trees.  You can barely see the moon, but it's there in the middle.  The sun was coming up ... it was going to be a beautiful 50 degree morning.

And then THIS happened.  Oh this is not good ... it's a SIGN.  It got foggier and foggier until I couldn't see past the patio.  I truly tried to sneak in a nap or two, but it was not to be.  Some black and tan kitty thing kept getting in my face for scratches and rubs.  Truly, I don't know what is up with this cat.  It's taken me 16 years to learn DOG ... and now I have to start all over and learn CAT.

Lunch was VERY early ... the last piece of chicken and whatever I could find in the fridge.  The freezer is empty, having tossed all of those containers of meatballs that made me sick.  I should get to the store for supplies and actually COOK something, but I'm just not in the mood.  Funny how the older I get, the less I want to cook.

And THEN ... THE FULL MOON EFFECT.  My couch is very tall, so I had two long steps made from quilting boxes with heavy quilts on top for traction.  That was so Mr. Cooper could get up and down easily without falling.  Until ... DISASTER STRUCT.

He tried to come up the steps and missed the top one altogether, falling to the hardwood floor.  I jumped up instantly to find him frozen in place.  I panicked, thinking he had broken something.  I carefully stood him up straight and held him.  He didn't move a muscle.  I think he hit his head and was dazed.  Finally he took a step ... and another.  It didn't appear anything was broken, thank the Good Lord.  

After resting on the floor for a time, he followed me into my bedroom and took a few trotting steps back out, so I'm guessing he's okay.  We laid on the couch for awhile, while I contemplated what I was going to do.  He LOVES being on the couch with me, but I know he can no longer be up so high.  

This was my solution.  I threw all the couch cushions on the floor, put down a nice comfy blanket and HIS blanket.  Now we sit on the springs.  I know ... crazy of me to do that, but he will continually try to jump up if I don't.  Now he can get on the couch easily, and if he falls, it will only be about 6 inches.  Even better, now he can't perch himself on the very top of the back cushions where it's even easier to fall off.

I blame the FULL MOON ... and it only got worse!  This is it ... the only picture of the night.  The guy who usually sets up the machine, or at least puts it in its spot ... did not show up.  That means I had to set up the entire thing ... screens and all.  I did not come early enough for that.

One volunteer just kept bugging me the entire time.  I'm trying to set up MY table first, and she's asking me a million questions.  Next I got hit up by two more wanting in the safe so they could set out the trash bags.  I love our volunteers, but goodness gracious!  Trash bags are the least of my worries.

To make it worse, the entire back room that sells the pull tabs (and makes all the money) did NOT show up.  I put out a few boxes of their games ... but really, that's not my job.  In a full moon instant ... they let people in the door and we were not even HALF set up.  The next thing I know, while my back is turned, someone came in and began rummaging through my bingo cards.  THAT is a No-No!  We are NOT OPEN!  I chased her off, finding out she should not have even been IN the building at all because she was not a member.

Big sigh ... Still no one showed up for the back room and we were 15 minutes from opening.  By now MY line is clear around the entire room.  What the heck is going on?  Oh wait ... it's a FULL MOON.  They could not even find people to WORK the back room and the head gal was nowhere in sight.

At long last she shows up and we start selling ten minutes late.  I knew I had my trainee coming, but I stayed on the infernal machine the entire time.  I knew if we didn't go fast enough, we would not be done selling before the games started.  ALSO a no-no.  My fingers flew across those keys!

No kidding ... for two solid hours I banged on that cash register as fast as I could possibly go.  It was two hours and ten minutes later before I got a break.  I don't know where they all came from, but we had a record breaking 159 people play bingo.  We haven't had that many in 20 years.  Thankfully I didn't have to deal with scrunching folks into tables where there was little to no room.  

Tempers flared several times, mostly because of newbies calling Bingo when they didn't have one.  SO many new players on this night that didn't know this is not your kids bingo where one line of five numbers wins.  It was pandemonium right and left.

MY temper flared because in spite of two HUGE signs saying NO TAPPING AND DEBIT CARD ONLY, I had people tell me it was a debit card when it was a CREDIT card.  I even said most every time ... NO TAPPING ... and they did it anyway.  

I was exhausted by the end of the night.  Of course we did not balance because the infernal machine stuck in $48 when I wasn't looking.  My trainee added to that with $17 worth of checks that we did not have because ... well ... we don't accept checks.  In the end we balanced ... sort of.  

Luckily when I got home, my Kid was waiting at the door.  Apparently he navigated the couch okay and was all in one piece.  

Thank goodness the full moon madness is over with!!  I will be reminded every day however as I sit ten inches off the floor on the nice not-so-soft springs of my couch.  Obviously, I will do anything for Mr. Cooper!!

Have a GREAT day everyone!!!

A Bloody Full Moon!

 Well good morning MARCH!!  Nothing like starting out the month with a full moon, and an eclipse to boot.  You would think I could just sleep right through that, but anyone who knows me and my camera, knows I'll be up.  Not awake really, but up.

The day began quite nicely with a quick trip to the quilt store to pick up this one.  I'm very much NOT happy since discovering the embroidery gal left off one line on the top.  Good grief ... I should have checked before sending it to the quilter.  This one has caused me SO many headaches.

On the way back, I stopped in at my favorite local used-to-be Mexica grocery store, to find that it now sells all things Taiwan.  Every shelf has an American version and a weird version, mostly flavored with shrimp and really hot stuff.  Not my cup of tea. 

We won't discuss what ELSE I found at the quilt store.  Maybe tomorrow.  The first order of business was to finish the binding on this quilt ... the second in a line of six required for this year's Veterans lunch.

All the while, Miss Kitters bothered me incessantly for pets and rubs.  I finally had to push her off on the floor three times before she gave up.  This girl ... she LOVES attention.  

I finally got out my camera and big lens in readiness for the full moon eclipse to be happening at 3:30 a.m.  I really wasn't excited about this one because getting up in the middle of the night isn't anything to celebrate.  

Lunch was easy ... and I am SO loving that air fryer ... CHICKEN THIGHS.  Bone in.  I'm pleasantly surprised at how tender and juicy they turn out.  AND they are Cooper approved, not that he gets more than a tiny little taste.  The best part?  This is THREE meals for me!

And then THIS happened.  We won't talk about it.  Okay, we will.  The stop at the now weird grocery store was for milk.  100% good old cow juice.  Literally twenty minutes later I was in Heaven cleaning out the bowl, small spoonful by spoonful.  I mean really, SOMEONE has to do it!  Who knew peanut butter ice cream could be so good!!

More camera work ensued, making sure the dead battery was back to normal.  Putting on the long lens is a project in coordination, but I got it done.  I did a few test shots to see where to put the settings and be able to get a picture in the dark, but I could not find my remote.  Even the tiny pressure of the button to take the picture, makes for blurry images in the dark.  

Dinner was a barbecue bacon cheeseburger.  Truly, I don't know if it's me or the food nowadays.  I smashed the burger this time and it looked delicious, but honestly, I could not taste the bacon OR the cheese.  Big mistake this time, I used a REAL bun ... and I was definitely sorry for that an hour later.  Apparently gluten and I don't get along any more.  

So here we go ... the full moon BEFORE she got very high in the sky.  The dark areas always fascinate me, but no way would I EVER think "let's fly in a cramped tiny little thimble 238,856 miles away and land on another planet, hoping and praying we can get back in one piece".  

With my luck we would crash and I'd starve to death, that is if I lived long enough without oxygen.  Oh the moon HAS oxygen, but it only lives in the rock and dust on the surface.  

And so yes, I DID get up at 3:30, but only because Kitters wanted outside.  It was 4:00 before I actually got out to take a few pictures.  The worm moon is the signal for what else ... worms ... to come out of the ground due to thawing and warming of our little planet.  

Because of the eclipse, it is also called the Blood Moon, the last full moon of the winter.  And we are happy for THAT!  Unfortunately, it is very hard to get a picture when half of it is lit up with a spotlight and the other half is in the dark.  This is the best I could do before I gave up and came back in the house.

Definitely not as exciting as an eclipse of the sun, but it was fun to watch, only because I am normally UP at this hour.  

And so we move on to BINGO!!  One of my stand-ins is not returning any messages and I've no idea if anyone will show up.  It's a sign ....... full moon and all!!  I'm crossing my fingers for a LOVELY night.

ANOTHER SIGN?  I forgot to post the announcement on Facebook of the Hot Ball Payout amount.  Big sigh ... I'm now making a big sign to nail to my fireplace that says POST BINGO.  

See you tomorrow if I survive!!!

WELL HELLO HIP FLEXOR!

 There must be something in the air.  It's a lovely 54 degrees this morning.  I've no idea what got into me, but at 6:30 I was out in the farmland walking like I knew what I was doing.

Suddenly I remembered the days of old when I was running in preparation for the next marathon.  Hmmm I wonder if I can still do that.  Something in my head should have said H-E-Q-Q NO ... but that didn't happen.  Instead, I began to run.  More like jogging actually, until my breathing became short.  That's when you take one HUGE breath and begin to feel like you can run forever. 

I distinctly remember my legs saying NO NO NO, but I kept going anyway.  I don't know what got into me, other than to say I just had to see if I could still do it.  

Two miles later, I had a long shadow heading back home.  Well, I DID IT, but a few hours after than, I got the wake up call.  HELLO HIP FLEXORS!!!  My how you are complaining and wreaking your revenge on me.  I was okay as long as I stayed SAT on the couch, but standing up was another story.  Advil was my friend.

Kitters could have cared less.  She slept most of the day, having confiscated her chair back from company.  She could barely keep her eyes open.  It must have been a fun night between 10:00 when she went out, and 4:00 when she came back in.  Cooper goes out at 4, so it was a win win!!

Though I really wanted to go to Costco and get my cash-back cash, I had to wait at home for this delivery.  I placed an order on Saturday, and received all of it except the oil.  I followed my phone app which showed the guys car coming my direction.  Suddenly it changed directions and went off roading.  What the heck?  

I better wait outside to be sure he doesn't leave it down the street.  He got here ... I saw the bag full of oil ... but he didn't want to relinquish it.  He spoke VERY little English.  I think it was some Indian language, or maybe Punjabi ... I've no idea, but truly I could not understand a word he said.  

He could not get his phone to work to say it was delivered.  No kidding ... his phone had a screen that was so badly damaged, I'm surprised it worked at all ... and he just would not give up the package until he could get the app to work.  Finally he called his boss ... and there was not an English word spoken.  At long last they told him to take it to the back door.  Well ... I'm right here, but okay.  He laughed and said something, but all I got out of it was 5-star review.  Okay, that's what I did because he was really trying hard and I DID end up with the oil.

By then it was lunchtime, and I had this brilliant idea to make a Taco Bell crunch wrap with a hamburger.  Surprisingly, I barbecued the burger to perfection.  Almost.  I should have flattened it like a pancake.  I added cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and avocado, then fried it up.  The mustard and ketchup on top was a BIG mistake.  The thing came out HUGE with condiments dripping all over the table when I tried to eat it.  Not bad really, but better luck next time.

Trying not to stiffen up so I couldn't walk at all, I grabbed the box of Blue Def.  You all know what this is ... diesel engine juice.  I swear these boxes used to be MUCH bigger.  

I was a little concerned about holding it up this high to fill the money guzzling tank.  It was weird that I got a dashboard message the last time I drove that it needed a drink when the gauge said it was HALF FULL.  Thankfully they have changed the fill spout and I was able to lift it with no problem.  Glug glug glug.

I checked the gauges and it now said 3/4 full.  So 2.5 gallons is only 1/4 of a tank?  That can't be right.  I do keep a two quart container full in the back just in case I run out completely, since it appears the gauge is wrong.

With that done, I took more Advil and cursed my hip flexors ... and my stupidity for running WAY too far ... before cuddling with Mr. Cooper on the couch.  

The moon came out early with another weird ring around it.  I grabbed my camera for a FABULOUS picture, only to find yet another battery dead as a doornail.  What is it with me and batteries?

I grabbed my phone, so this is the best I got.  The battery is charging and maybe I'll get another chance tonight.

On BINGO night, there should be an amazing RARE full worm moon with a full eclipse.  Lucky for the East Coast, that will happen between 6 and 7 in the morning.  Here, it will be at 3:33 am they say, so unless Kitters is crying at the door, I doubt I will have a change to photograph it.  Especially considering it's on BINGO night.  

Yes that's right ... the worst kind of full moon will be experienced at the Magic Castle Tuesday night.  Pray for me!!!!!

YOU ARE WATCHING HISTORY

 March has officially arrived.  In like a lion with lots of rain, out like a lamb with 70 degrees days and strange looking skies.   Better to be here than on the other side of the world.  I try to remain non-political as much as possible, but on the other side of the globe, history is being made.  

I remember when the Berlin Wall was torn down.  We watched it on television for days.  On this day, Cyndae and I watched for hours as the most evil man in the world was taken down.  I am not about war, but he brazenly killed over 30,000 of his own people who only wanted freedom, and he just came to a fitting end.  The people who left their country in order to stay alive, are scattered all across the globe and are celebrating today.  Hopefully they will know the freedom we experience very soon.

WE on the other hand ... we sat glued to the couch all morning.  This is truly a familiar picture.  I did a few little things ... like sneak a bag-o-Sees candy into Cyndae's to-go bag so I wouldn't eat it, followed by her Costco purchases of butter and ribs.  I've eaten WAY too much on these two days to try and finish up an entire rack of ribs.

I'm not sure whose idea it was to head out to THIS place at noon.  I was positive it would be packed to the gills.  I mean truly, Habit Burger has the best food around.  It seems however, that everyone heads to the next town over for the new Whataburger or In-and-Out.  This place was EMPTY.  

How can that be?  They have BY FAR, the best burgers in the country, not to mention the best onion rings and sweet potato fries!  I'm not one to branch out and order something different, but we decided it would be better to order one sandwich and split it.  That was the best idea ever!

There was a little trouble ordering.  With only TWO employees in the entire building and one dumb walk-up computer to order with, things came to a screeching halt.  Maybe that's why no one is here.  Cyndae put in HER phone number to be notified of our order, but she left her phone home.

Instead of one sandwich and two sides, we got three sides and no burger.  I finally walked right up to the gal at the drive up window because they were ignoring us completely, and asked for help.  She had just as much trouble getting the burger to show up as we did. 

Anyhoo ... here is the Santa Barbara Char burger.  Two patties, avocado, caramelized onions, cheese and all the fixings.  It was HUGE!!  The only thing we did NOT get (because this picture came from the internet) was the onion rings.  Who knew deep fried green beans were rather tasty?  

And that burger?  It's my new favorite!!  No big bready bun, but sourdough grilled to perfection.  Those sweet potato fries?  They were on my side of the table and disappeared in a flash.  

Sadly, there were only six people in the entire place, including us.  I expected it to be crazy busy at noon.  What is going on?  I'm guessing it's not the cheapest place around.  This lunch cost me $21.00, the burger being $10.99 of that price.  I guess nothing is cheap any more, but maybe that's why everyone goes to In-and-Out because they are less expensive.

And so ended a very nice day of great food with a little bit of amazing history thrown in.  It ended with a crazy looking not-quite-full moon, but a spectacular Moon Dog.  I'm sure this is to make up for the Bingo full moon that is soon to create havoc at the Castle.  Even weirder, I have never seen clouds that looked like this.

It's Sunday and time for a little cleaning.  James the robot vacuum lost its mind last week, and went around in circles caught on a piece of paper.  After beating him half to death, I finally discovered he would not run unless my phone WiFi was turned on ... which I NEVER do.  Maybe I'll even drag out the REAL vacuum for one dance around the carpeted floors today.

We did not pick up the quilt because luckily I discovered it was End Bolt day a the quilt shop.  That means if you buy all the fabric on the bolt (no matter how big or how small), you get 40% off the price.  I mistakenly stopped in there once on that day and literally could not even get in the door because of the 50 ladies standing at the counter trying to get checked out.  No thank you ... I'll go this some time this week.

Time to take Mr. Cooper for a walk.  Have a great Sunday!!