Friday Randomness
Here we are, it’s Friday again, and it’s the last week of February! Like many of you, I’ve been practicing gratitude this month for Elisabeth’s Fig Collective, which is a nice way to structure my Friday Randomness post as well. Here goes:
Friday – Baked Potato and Brave Browser
Saturday – Bougie Protest and Lunch
Sunday – Mimosa, scrambled eggs, hair dryer
Monday – CBBC and a nice dinner
Tuesday – Rain, grilled cheese, podcast
Wednesday – Leftovers, flowering trees (again)
Thursday – Rest Day
Friday – The Age of Innocence
Saturday – Yoga for Gratitude, birthday party, crab and garlic noodles
Friday
I don’t have a picture of the delicious dinner I made Friday night, so you get a headline from The Onion instead. Generally on Fridays we go out to dinner, but neither of us were really feeling like figuring out where to go or any of that, so I bought Maya her favorite burrito, and Ted and I had steak and baked potatoes. I hit the ball out of the park with my baked potatoes, which to me are the most important part of the meal, so I was very happy about that.
Also on Friday, Birchie told me that she uses the Brave browser, which means no ads when she’s reading blogs. I was having SO MUCH trouble commenting on some of my favorite blogs, and this solved the problem and made me SO HAPPY. Thank you Birchie!
Saturday
Saturday Ted and I went to our weekly anti-Trump protest, after which we went and had a lovely lunch. When I protest and then go get a glass of white wine and a salad, I call that a ‘bougie protest’, because what could be more bougie?
Saturday evening, we watched this video on YouTube, of a couple from England visiting San Francisco for the first time. Folks who have been to SF on a trip might get a kick out of it.
Sunday
Sunday after my weights and yoga, I had scrambled eggs and a mimosa for breakfast. Maya had bought a bottle of sparkling wine on Saturday, and we tested out the new champagne stopper that she got in her Christmas stocking. It worked really well! The wine was perfectly bubbly the next day! Thanks, Santa!
Later, when I tried to dry my hair, my hair dryer caught on fire! I mean, smoke coming out of it, really nasty smell, but no flames. Obviously I unplugged it, and had a new answer to Elisabeth’s question of ‘what would you replace immediately if it broke/died/caught on fire’. Off to Ulta, where I used a 20% off coupon to get a new one. Isn’t it pretty? I do not like the hairbrush that came with it, my hair is too straight for a diffuser to help, and I don’t use the other attachment. But I like the color and it works very well, and so far has not tried to burn our house down. When things like this happen, though, I am grateful that I can afford to just run out to the store and buy a $50 (after discounts) hair dryer. Some of you grew up without money and know that an expense like that is not always possible to just fold in. So you either put it on a credit card, or you live without until you can save up enough to replace your hair dryer or whatever. I do not take this for granted.
My friend Nickie posted this adorable video on Facebook, and I too want to cuddle a little foal in my lap and have it fall asleep from just being tuckered out. Seriously, this was the best thing I saw all day.
Monday
Monday I was grateful to Engie, for all of the work she puts in to our online book club, even when she doesn’t like the book. I’ve never belonged to an IRL book club, so I don’t know whether the amount of research she puts in is common. Maybe some people have a lot of questions and quotes and so on, no idea. I loved The Age of Innocence, and I really enjoyed not only Engie’s posts, but also the comments – from Nance, who has taught this book and has a great knowledge of it and of the symbolism as only an English teacher can, to those who said quick things like, “Eh, not for me.” Thank you Engie! I’m looking forward to the wrap up post on Monday.
Again, grateful that Maya cooks on Mondays. It’s been a very busy week at work, and it was nice to not have to think about dinner. She made one of our favorite soups, Red Lentil Soup with Warm Spices.
Tuesday
Tuesday was supposed to be blustery with a lot of rain, but turned out to be occasional showers, as most of the storm went north of us. I’m fine with this, as long as we get moisture up in the mountains where they really need it, I don’t mind just having a cloudy day. In anticipation of the rain that didn’t come, we had roasted tomato basil soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner.
Do you ever listen to This American Life? I used to listen regularly, but don’t listen often anymore. Tuesday morning I found myself with no book to listen to, and it was time to do my stupid weight training, so I decided to listen to a podcast instead. This was a great episode, I Want What I Want. I laughed at the beekeepers son who wanted to be stung by a bee, since everyone else in the family had been, and he had not. I mean, it was poignant, they played the recording of him being stung. But overall it was sweet. Then a stand up comic tells the story of Edward Dando, a British man in the 19th century who would gorge on oysters, claim he thought they were free, get thrown in jail, do his time, and upon release, go gorge on oysters again. You really should listen if you need some not bullshit stuff to listen to.
Tuesday evening I was grateful that I did not have to watch the State of the Union. I think we watched Bridgerton. Tuesday night, I was extremely grateful for Ted. Maya accidentally broke the shower head (it has varied modes for heavier or lighter water spray, and the cheap plastic bit that you use to adjust it broke off, and the water was barely dribbling – with shampoo in her eyes, she was pretty grumpy when she got out of the shower). I live in terror of changing a shower head. I don’t know why. Ted took it off, got it adjusted to where it would spray water again, and put it back. WHEW. I think if it had just been me, I would have called a plumber and spent a bunch of money.
Wednesday
Time for your weekly photo of the same darned tree. I love this tree. I was thankful to past Ted and Julie, who had frozen uncooked meatloaf and cooked mac and cheese, so dinner was super quick and easy.
Thursday
Thursday I was grateful for a calm afternoon at work, after a pretty busy week. Also, Thursday is one of my two Rest Days for strength training, plus the yoga I did was quick, easy, off the wrists.
Friday
I’m writing this on Thursday afternoon, but I’m hoping to get a DVD of the film version of The Age of Innocence from the library, and watch that. If I run out of time, I can pay to watch it on Apple TV or something, I just like free more than I like paying. Ted says we saw it back in 1993 when it came out, but I have zero recollection of that. Not uncommon, sadly. I have some errands to run, but I think if work doesn’t dump a bunch of stuff on me, and if I can be organized, I’ll have time to watch.
Saturday
Tomorrow’s yoga is so perfect for the last day of FIGs. Grounding into Gratitude. I’d love it if you would join me!
Speaking of yoga, here’s the calendar for March. Feel free to join me on Saturdays if you would like.
Here are the links to the Saturday practices.
March 7 – Mountain Flow – This is the hands free, easy practice that I did this week.
March 14 – I am Supported – This is an ab workout
March 21 – I am Present – This one is about 40 minutes, probably a standard practice
March 28 – I Deserve – Probably a standard practice
Saturday I expect to be grateful for family, as we will be celebrating my BIL’s birthday. Family from a couple of hours away will be here, and it is always great to see them. The menu will include roasted crab, garlic noodles, and chocolate cake.
26 Comments
Birchie
Ah yes, the Brave browser, which makes reading blogs fun again. Just a note that for blogger blogs you have to disable ad blocking to leave comments, but the chances are high that blogger folks don’t use ads to start with.
I just might have to treat myself to that champagne stopper.
J
I was pretty happy with the champagne stopper! I will try to remember your tip about blogger blogs.
AC
You’re right. Having enough money to replace an item or even purchasing a frill is a treat that we haven’t all expereinced in all parts of our lives.
J
Indeed, and I try not to forget that.
StephLove
Noah and I made a red lentil soup last weekend. It was fine but not spectacular. The lentils were underdone and he said he learned through the experience he did not like smoked paprika. But it was a big pot of soup and I didn’t want to waste it, so I had some of the leftovers for lunch a couple times and froze the rest.
Sometime we have early-blooming cherry trees in bloom by this time of year, but not this year. It’s been unusually cold. There are scattered snowdrops and crocuses, but not a lot of those either.
There was no danger of me watching the State of the Union. We were talking about dinner about how we used to watch it more often. I think when I was in my twenties, I though it was my civic duty and I watched it no matter who was president, which turned into only watching when I liked the president, which eventually turned into rarey watching it, even before Trump. But I think I will watch it again if we ever have a president who is not a fascist again, just for the experience and the relief of it.
J
We lived in Philly for a couple of years, and I loved the weeping cherry trees in bloom, they are spectacular. I’ve never seen one here, so I assume they don’t do well in our climate. Do you have those near where you are?
I’m sorry about your lentil soup. If you look up the recipe I linked to, there is a little drizzle that you put in at the end that is really good. You might try it to improve your leftovers, though it has smoked paprika, so definitely not for Noah.
nance
Leftover/saving champagne? What is that? LOL
I absolutely adore the DD-L movie “The Age of Innocence.” It is directed by Scorsese and sticks to the book beautifully. It does leave out the character of Medora, but she’s extraneous to the plot anyway. It won an Oscar for costume design, but was nominated for several others, including one for Winona Ryder, who played May. I have the DVD AND the viddy, and I wish you lived close by so that we could watch the movie together. SO MUCH! We could drink champagne and have wonderful elegant snacks.
Thanks for your kind comments regarding my contributions to the CBBC. I loved revisiting this book and can’t wait for the wrap-up discussions.
I actually have a backup hairdryer! It’s one that is lousy and I hate, so I replaced it when I just couldn’t take it anymore. It’s sitting in my bathroom cabinet in case of Emergency. At that point, I’d use it and then go buy a good one, and yes, you’re absolutely right that we are fortunate to be able to do so.
J
I watched it alone on my sofa with a Coke Zero. Would have been SO MUCH better to watch with you and some champagne / fancy snacks!
The hairdryer that caught on fire was my backup hairdryer. I guess that means since I’m down to one, I should have bought two! (My daughter has one of those brush hairdryers I can use as a backup, so no, unlikely that I would go buy a second one.)
Suzanne
Such a wonderful post. I really should get that champagne stopper! I am the only one who drinks bubbles in our house, but I love a glass and then the bottle isn’t super the next day.
Yay for your goregous flowering tree!!!
I am really going to try to join you for yoga tomorrow! Saturdays have been TOUGH this month, but I think I should have time. It may be asynchronous with you, because I have chauffeur duty in the late morning, but I’m going to do it anyway!
J
I hope you get the champagne stopper! I was very pleasantly surprised at how well it worked. I read somewhere that the biggest factor in keeping bubbles in your champagne is temperature, so pour your glass, put the topper on, and put it back in the fridge.
Nicole MacPherson
Wine for lunch and mimosa post-yoga, this sounds lovely. I am intrigued by the champagne stopper. I love an Aperol spritz but I kind of feel like when we have them, we have to drink the whole bottle of Prosecco. Not that this is a problem! Two people can do that! But occasionally I’d like to have one glass. Or do I? Maybe I should not get a champagne stopper so I can just GO TO TOWN on Aperol spritz.
That onion headline cracked me up, Rex is totally a dog who immediately flops so visitors can scritch scratch his tumtum.
Your hair dryer caught on fire??? OH MY GOD. This is such a fear of mine! I am so terrified of fire and the thought of my hair dryer omgggggggggggggg *spends next ten minutes deep box breathing*
J
The hair dryer had been giving me grief for a few weeks, not really wanting to turn on. So I should have taken that as a warning. Thankfully, no actual flames were produced and it’s safely in the trash now!
I would get the champagne stopper, just in case!
Margaret
Love baked potatoes–they can be my go to dinner. There’s so much that can be added to them! I liked your bougie protest. John and I do the same; we go out to lunch afterward. I’ve never read “The Age of Innocence” although as an English minor, I’ve read my share of literature. I couldn’t bring myself to watch the State of the Union; I already know what the state of the union is–horrible. John made it through about 5 minutes before turning it off.
J
Oh, a good backed potato is SO good, and I forget that sometimes.
Ernie
I’m laughing at your bougie protest schedule. Per usual love your memes. I agree about the ability to go buy a new hairdryer. Because my hair is so thin, I’m very fussy about hair dryers. Too much force – nope. I’m team Hats Off to Engie for all the work she does on the book club. I’m enjoying my own play on words here since she is always with the Hat mentions. I STILL need to comment on the Monday Age post. I’m sure I saw the movie when it was newish, but no recollection.
J
LOL regarding your Hat reference, well done. The movie is VERY Scorsese with close ups of eyes and so on. I enjoyed it though!
Jenny
I agree that Engie does a tremendous job with the CBBC, even when she doesn’t like the book. Like you, i love Age of Innocence. This was a reread for me, and I loved it all over again. I saw the movie a long time ago, but now I want to see it again.
Hahahaha…. I also would have rather put tabasco in my eye than watch State of the Union. All your memes are funny- I like the turtle one.
Maybe tomorrow will be the day I finally do yoga with you. I kind of feel like we have to do that one to honor Elisabeth and her FIGs!
J
That yoga coming up at the end of Elisabeth’s month of FIGS seems serindipdous, doesn’t it?
Daria
Great bunch of randomness!!
I especially loved the turtle meme -“slow- “rude” lol
What randomness do I have here?… Maybe how nice some people dress in NYC – OR, how terrible it is to see unhoused folks on the streets of manhattan and train stations. I know SF also has a major unhoused folks situation.
J
Yes, San Francisco has a huge unhoused population, it’s really difficult. I’ve noticed some tents in amongst the bushes along the freeway here, too. It makes me sad.
Stephany
I also would replace my hair dryer if it broke! And I might be excited about it because I’ve had mine for so long and I’d love a new one, ha. Ditto to my straightener!
I didn’t watch the State of the Union either. I cannot handle watching anything that guy says.
J
I wasn’t entirely sad about replacing it, to be honest. The one I was using was a ‘back up’ hair dryer, one we had replaced because we didn’t love it, but kept it ‘just in case’.
Sarah
Ha!! I sent that same Onion headline to Ben– it made me literally LOL. I have loved this month of Saturday yoga and am excited to extend to March.
J
Yay! I saw on your blog that you’re planning to do yoga every day, and that made me so happy! I’ll be glad to know we’re doing yoga together on Saturdays. <3
Melissa
I have one of those champagne stoppers, and they are brilliant. My parents gave it to me. I love your protest style. I think that’s the way I would want to do it. Luckily we don’t have any current reasons to protest here. Although if someone was getting a protest together against our money funnelling into organised crime through our state government’s big build program I’d be in that.
J
Champagne stopper FTW! I’m thankful that you don’t have (much) to protest right now, Melissa. SOMEONE should live somewhere semi-sane at least.