Friday Randomness
I missed my Friday Randomness last week. I had things to talk about, but the week got away from me. I’ll try not to blather on too much today, though with these posts, the blather is really the point, right?
We celebrated our 33rd anniversary at a very fancy steak place near Union Square in San Francisco, Mastro’s Steak House. The food was delicious, but boy, it was a lot of food. We both wanted the rack of lamb, and had we been paying attention, we would have split an order, because it was 22 oz. Gulp. The baked potato was a pound. Ted’s boss told him that the butter cake was necessary, so we ordered that, and then they sent out an extra dessert, a piece of chocolate cake. These are huge. The silverware up top should give you a hint. We brought SO MUCH food home. The next day was the 4th of July, and we brought our leftover desserts out with us, and shared them with Ted’s parents. Everything was excellent, and we had leftovers for dinner on Sunday.
Speaking of steak, remember a bit ago when I got my Wordle in 2 with PUPPY? I told you then that my rule was that after my first word, PRICE, if the second word could be STEAK, I use STEAK. That paid off for the first (and last?) time ever. Will I keep that rule? Hmmm. I need to think about that, maybe I’ll find another word that works.
San Francisco decided to shoot 4th of July fireworks off of the Golden Gate Bridge, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the USA. Of course, Karl the fog had other ideas, perhaps a clear indication as to why this is not an annual thing. June and July are the foggiest months in San Francisco, and if it’s foggy anywhere, it will be foggy out by the bridge. Picture taken from the SF Chronicle.
July 5th was the 9th anniversary of my father’s death. UGH. My sister Melissa, who was in Paris a few weeks ago, spent the anniversary in Belluno, Italy, in the Dolamites, where our father died. She sent some photos, and gosh, it’s stunning.
She said it gave her a wonderful sense of peace to see the beautiful place where he died. I am not sure I will ever feel strong enough to go there, but I am really glad she went, and that it gave her some peace. It’s hard to believe that he’s been gone this long. He had 5 grandkids, and Maya is the only one he saw graduate from High School, and he died when she was in college. He had barely retired. I miss him every day.
Just because it’s foggy in San Francisco doesn’t mean it’s cool here. It all depends on the high pressure, and how much it is pushing the fog down. Sometimes it stays out by the coast all day. Sometimes it gets as far as the bay, but doesn’t make it over the Berkeley/Oakland hills. On days like this, it can be a good 30 to 40 mile difference, and it’s only 20 miles away. We had a few of those days this week. I thought it was funny that I had 3 devices that told me 3 different temperatures. I went downstairs and checked the physical thermometer on our kitchen window, and it was a bit over 100, maybe 102 or 103 (it’s analog). And a few days ago, we even had humidity! It’s generally dry here, so the 76% humidity we had the other morning was a shock. If course it mellowed out a bit by afternoon, so when it was in the 90s it was down to about 40%, but still that’s muggy for us. Nothing like the East Coast, but still.
Speaking of weather, wow, a lot of you are suffering from wildfire smoke right now! We have gone through that many times, and it’s horrible. Stay safe, and stay inside. It can play havoc on your health, don’t mess with it.
In other news, this is Mocha, a little dog I saw on my morning walk the other day. Isn’t she adorable? Her person said she always likes to have a stuffy with her when she walks, though it’s not always this one. I love her.
Look at the kitten! There were 5 kittens when I cleaned out the kennels the other day. These orange ones had some really gross poop. I don’t mind cleaning out a cat box, but when it’s on the walls and requires scrubbing, I feel like a saint for doing this stuff.
Remember the huge plumeria cuttings my cousin sent me a few months ago? They were just sticks!
Now look at them, about 2 months later. I am even getting flowers! I didn’t have a pot big enough for the sticks when they got here, so I put them in a big tub I had lying around. Now I have bought them a pot, but I don’t know if it’s a good idea to move them or not. I will keep you updated.
The other morning while I was doing my yoga, I looked out my front window and saw this. Yes, my flowers need deadheading, but what is that? A cob! A corn on the cob that has been eaten and is all dried out. Crazy! My first thought was to wonder what kind of stupid people have been wandering around here, but I then realized that our asshole squirrel George Bush surely left it there. That’s definitely not the worst thing he’s done, so I just cleaned it up and moved on.
Look at the cool literary buttons I saw in a local grab and go type shop in our general neighborhood! I considered buying some and mailing them to you, but do people wear buttons anymore? And shipping them might mean a particular kind of mailer. I’m totally willing to do it, but I have to know you want it. So if you want one, let me know, I’ll go back and get one for you. I can’t decide which one I like best.
I can’t even with politics right now. Between that asshat Platner in Maine, Hegseth and his testosterone BS, Trump and his election BS, all of them exhaust me.
Now that McConnell seems to be alive, it doesn’t seem in such poor taste to share this meme that made me guffaw a bit. Not that I didn’t share it, but not online. This man has done so much damage to our country, all I could think when the rumors were going around that he was brain dead were ‘good, I hope it hurts!’. Which I doubt you feel anything when you’re brain dead, but a person can hope, right? Now I’m wondering if I need to buy another bottle of champagne to keep on hold. The first one is for Trump.
Here’s your palate cleanser after US politics talk. Ted usually cooks on Saturdays, but this last Saturday he had to work, so I thought I would find some delicious fresh veggies from the Farmers’ Market and make a Salad Nicoise. It was absolutely just as good as we wanted it to be.
Tomorrow we’re going to a family party, and it’s finally time to make the Salted Tomatoes with Tomato and White Bean Dip that Melissa wrote about back when it was tomato season in Australia. I’ve been waiting (im)patiently to give this one a try. I’m also making a new potato salad that Ted’s cousin requested, and Ina Garten’s fresh corn salad.
I have some movie and TV updates I guess, and even more book reviews, but that kind of catches you up with life Chez J. What’s exciting where you are? Are you breathing OK? Do you have masks to protect yourself? We have some, they are different than the ones for COVID. Bah.
46 Comments
Anvilcloud
American politics are so weird and awful really.
Meanwhile you have a remarable pulmeria and incredible food.
J
Yes, I need to focus on the things in my life. The politics are very important, and I must do what I can to fix it, but being pulled down into depression about it doesn’t help anyone.
Birchie
Doggo has never taken a toy with her on a walk, but sometimes she insists on bringing a toy outside in the yard. I love it when she does that, even if the toy ends up muddy/wet. BTW, the big downer right now is that the heat is really cutting into our dog walk time. Sigh.
It’s been forever since I’ve had lamb! Yum!!!
J
Ugh, I hope you get a break from the heat soon! Ours has broken and it’s LOVELY outside now.
Tamara
Happy Anniversary – what cake you enjoyed! And thank you for the photo of that salad niçoise. I’m all out of food inspiration today, but THAT (or approximate) is what we will have for dinner today.
J
Oh, I hope if you had the salad, it is delicious. I love Salade Nicoise.
Tamara
We did, it was delicious, but not quite as pretty as yours, as I have a child who cannot handle food that touches, so we keep things deconstructed and diy.Thanks again for the inspiration!
J
I would call that ‘salad bar’, and I would like it just as much. I’m glad you had it!
nance
All terrific photos in the post this Friday! I’m fighting for light with all this political bullshit; each day brings more garbage and embarrassment. We deserve so much better.
That salade Nicoise looks wonderful, so fresh and light. Would Rick eat that and be satisfied? Probably not.
Our 45th anniversary is Saturday. After a busy, busy, exhausting week, we are retreating to the lakehouse and adopting a hermit lifestyle for the weekend. I actually hope it rains, and not just to chase out this heavy wildfire smoke.
Your plumeria! It’s like a miracle. I wish I could grow them here–they’re so strikingly beautiful and the scent is gorgeous.
I love those literary buttons! I’m wondering how I’d wear them. I used to have an oversize denim jacket that I covered in various brooches, buttons, and pins. I’ve since gotten rid of all of that, but that would have been the ideal place for them.
J
I remember when a denim jacket with buttons was quite the thing.
A friend of mine said he has heard people in colder climates can keep a plumeria by taking the plat out of its pot when the leaves fall off, wrapping it in newspaper, and putting it somewhere cool and dark for the winter. Or, one could bring it inside for the winter. If we had a basement, I think I would do that, but we don’t, and it’s pretty big…so I’m going to do my best and hope I can keep it alive by covering it and bringing it close to the house.when it goes dormant. I’m enjoying it right now for sure.
Happy Anniversary! I hope you have a wonderful, restful time. We’re going to a a party tomorrow, I will raise a glass to you and Rick.
Michelle G.
The tale of the corn cob made me laugh so hard! ? The dog bringing its toy for a walk is so adorable! Our dog used to carry a stick wherever he went, and it always made me laugh. But he gave it up when he got a bit older. We’d say, “Where’s your stick?” and he’d go get one . Now he just acts like he doesn’t know what those words even mean.
J
My neighbor said that the squirrel probably couldn’t get the food waste bin open, so was just asking for help. Very charitable of her, they have done SO much damage in her yard.
LOL that your dog lost interest in his sticks. I sometimes see dogs with sticks in their mouth…sometimes really big sticks!
Margaret
Is McConnell alive? I wonder. I’ve heard conflicting info about that photo. Your anniversary dinner was very impressive–so much food. I’m glad it didn’t go to waste. No desserts ever get wasted around me! 🙂 I love Salade Nicoise although I haven’t had it for a while. It’s great for hot weather. We haven’t had wildfire smoke yet but it’s probably coming in August. It’s been SO dry! We got thunderstorms in western WA but I doubt that the places that needed the rain got any. 🙁
J
I hope we don’t have wildfires this summer. I hate fire season, and it can last so long.
mbmom11
For the wordle, my second guess that day was stake- an anagram and homophone. So I got stuck with three.
I vary my start word so I’ll never get it in one. My daughter got pious last year in one and stopped playing – resting on her laurels.
J
Oh, she stopped! I got it in once once, and considered changing my starter word, but it didn’t stick. I went back to PRICE.
San
Happy anniversary! You sure celebrated in style! Years ago, Jon celebrated an anniversary in SF at a Steakhouse and it was sooo much food LOL
Look at your Plumeria! It’s thriving!
I do hope you decide to visit the Dolomites sometime. They’re breathtaking and maybe, like your sister, you’ll feel a sense of peace knowing that your Dad died in a beautiful place. I am sending you hugs. I can only imagine how much you miss him.
It was SOOO muggy at the start of the week. I was thinking the same thing: probably not as bad as the East Coast, but definitely very muggy for us West Coasters 🙂
J
That muggy weather was the worst. I’m dreading the PG&E bill, we had to run the a/c for a couple of days there. That’s one time when working from home is more expensive than going to an office.
Nicole MacPherson
OMG I am dying to have those desserts. Happy anniversary!
Julie, I thought of you at that wordle and I meant to text you but forgot! That day I used “stare” and then when I got so many letters I remembered what you said and put in “steak.” Wordle in two! So thank you! And also, I beamed my Grateful Care Bear Stare your way.
Your dad must have been young when he passed. I have heard so many stories of people passing shortly after retirement, and it breaks my heart. I’m so sorry, it’s a rough anniversary.
J
I’m glad that Mulder and I could help you get STEAK in two!
My dad was young, he was almost 74. He was so healthy and vibrant. He talked about writing a book, about all of the interesting people he met in his adventures. He was very involved in the civil rights movement, labor movement, had counterculture newspapers, etc. I wish he had gotten a chance to write it.
NGS
Poor Hannah. She’s not allowed stuffies. WE ARE SO MEAN.
Also, do we think McConnell is alive? Do we?
I’m convinced I could have eaten the dessert by myself.
J
If you had seen those desserts in person, you might think twice about being able to eat the entire thing. THEY WERE HUGE. I don’t mean to doubt you, but they were SO big.
No stuffies for Hannah? Does she like toys? I’ve had 3 dogs, and two could not have cared less. Milder LOVED them and so he had a big basket of toys.
NGS
So, Hannah is so-so on toys. She’s destructive with stuffies, though, and it’s not recommended that dogs who destroy them play with them unsupervised because the stuffing and squeakers pose choking and intestinal blockage hazards. I’ll let her have one every once in a while if I’m right next to her watching her. She’s uninterested in any more durable chew toy and is vaguely insulted when I give her something like a hard rubber Kong. We also don’t let her have bones and the like for various choking/tooth-related reasons. So, poor Hannah. She mostly has balls. She’ll play with them for like thirty seconds and then gets bored.
I can eat a lot, friend. I can eat a lot.
J
Yeah, Mulder had a toy crab (Named ‘Crabby’) that he loved to play with, and once he got a leg off, I would throw it away and buy a new one. Pets are expensive, right? I found some chew things that we gave Mulder, but I later read that they could be a choking hazard too. Thankfully it never happened!
Lisa's Yarns
Ok, the Bernie Sanders meme is the best. Who knew we’d get so much mileage out of that inauguration pic? Lol.
I can’t think too much about politics or I will go crazy. I pay attention because I have to for my job but gosh it is depressing. And then sometimes there are political debates in bloomberg chats at work and I want to pull my hair out. Sigh.
Happy Anniversary to you and Ted! Your dinner sounded wonderful. I love when I come home with leftovers. Those desserts look huge! Yum!
We had really horrible air quality for 2 days but it’s better now, thank goodness. If we couldn’t be outside this weekend, I would have been really disappointed. Our summers are so brief so being cooped up inside due to wildfire smoke really sucks. But I am fortunate to not have to worry about the wildfires, like the poor residents of northern Minnesota and Ontario. 🙁
J
I’m glad to hear that the smoke is clearing up a bit. And I’m glad you can be outside.
Those desserts were HUGE. We divided them by 4 people and we all had enough. They were delicious too.
DB Stewart
Your touching comments about your Dad really resonated. I just returned from Scotland and actually visited the region where my great-grandparents were married just before they emigrated to Canada. It was quite emotional and gave me much (imagined) insight into them, since they both died before I became a teen.
Those buttons! Would you send one to Canada? I totally understand if that’s too far? I love the Dickinson one and am curious about Orwell, plus Read banned books is fantastic too. Anyway, no obligation.
J
I will absolutely send buttons to Canada! Please send me your mailing address – I’m at j_asregadoo at yahoo dot com.
StephLove
Happy anniversary! I love the writing in chocolate syrup.
We had 100+ degree, 1,000% humidity weather over the 4th in DC, which kind of scuttled our celebration and yesterday we traveled through Ohio and Michigan, through hazardous smoke conditions. Just a day later, the skies are clear and the air quality is good (though the smoke is supposed to come back. when the winds shift maybe tomorrow). But it meant we could take North to swim in Lake Erie today and that was their top agenda item for our visit.
I was thinking how the ongoing political crisis in the U.S. has made me more likely to laugh at jokes/memes I would have thought were in poor taste just a few years ago and I’m not sure that’s a good thing. But it’s kind of a gallows humor coping mechanism, I think. I will never, ever forgive McConnell for stealing that Supreme Court seat from President Obama. He is a vile man.
J
I agree regarding the gallows humor. I feel completely justified in the mean spirited memes for these vile people, and then I remember the mean spirited Obama memes and I don’t want to be like those people. So I try, sometimes, to resist. But McConnell and the hypocrisy regarding the Supreme Court nominations was astounding, and deserves meme dispensation, I think.
I’m so sorry about the shitty weather and wildfire smoke you have been going through! I well remember a stretch in the summer of 2020, when we had to stay home, it was hot out, there was a dry lighting storm that started a bunch of fires, and due to the heat our utility company was doing rolling blackouts. It was so stressful. If it hadn’t been COVID, we could have gone to a movie or the mall to escape the heat and the wildfire smoke, but we couldn’t. Top it off with the BS politics going on, and it was A LOT.
I rememeber a perticularly apt and specific meme, which you can find here: https://jellyjules.com/meme-monday-bay-area-edition/
Elisabeth
I don’t do Wordle anymore but it was a short (but intense) era in our household. We got it in one once: olive. SO EXCITING! And the irony is we didn’t use the same starter word every time.
Happy Anniversary. It sounds like a really wonderful celebration of your life together and love.
J
I think getting the WORDLE in one when you use random words would be exciting! Since I use the same word every day, it felt like it had to happen sooner or later. I thought I would be excited, but it was somehow anticlimactic.
Melissa
Happy Anniversary. The dessert looks yummy. And the dog with its toy is so cute. Riley always grabs a toy when he comes inside but he drops it pretty quickly usually. He is so funny thoguh when he manages to sneak outside carrying one.
I hope the dip went well.
J
I love your dog dropping his toy quickly, but needing to check in.
The dip was a hit! We had way too much food (as we always do) so we brought some home, it was a tasty lunch on toast.
Jenny
I mean… that dog with a stuffie… So cute. AND THAT KITTEN!!! I was just thinking how much I want him when I continued reading about the messy poop…. um, no thanks. Sylvie was a little messy when we first got her, probably because she was so young. I definitely had some cleaning to do after she pooped- mostly of her though. Still- that little guy is a cutie. He won’t have trouble getting adopted!
Happy Anniversary! Those desserts don’t look huge until you look at the silverware next to them. Egads!
Your temps plus humidity sound awful, even to a Floridian. Imagine our electraic bills though- we run the AC nonstop from May- November.
J
The desserts were SO BIG. I don’t think anyone sees how big they were. I need something bigger than a fork and spoon to really show it.
PocoBrat
Happy Anniversary!
Love the picture of you and your dad (Jules, you have his smile!)
That plumeria is gorgeous, and I’m so proud of how you grew it from those sticks.
(I do NOT believe MM is alive BTW.)
J
Interesting that you feel MM is dead. I’ve just accepted he is alive, but if he is not, I feel like these people who said they talked to him should answer for it. Of course, they weren’t under oath…
Diane
There’s so much good recipe inspiration here for summer produce!
Happy anniversary! That meal looks epic! I feel like so many “nice” restaurants have teeny tiny portions and this we the exact opposite.
I love the hodge podge of random things in all your posts. It’s a good reminder of all the wonderful and small moments.
J
Summer produce is the best. I made the corn salad again tonight. I love it. I think steak restaurants are the exception to the ‘Nice’ restaurant = small servings rule. So often there are huge portions of meat and veggies. This place was crazy. They did have small portions as well, like a 6oz steak vs. the 22oz lamb chops we got.
Gina
Congratulations on your anniversary you crazy kids! What an amazing dinner that must have been! We love going out to fancy restaurants like that, but rarely do. Glad you were able to mark the occasion with something so special.
Ugh, I fear for this country. I don’t know if we can stop the trajectory. I don’t know if the current Congress has the power to stand up for what is right. It is looking doubtful at the moment. 🙁 It makes me so sad for our kids that we have not been able to hold on.
Food is a never ending struggle here in this house. We all have different palates, especially my autistic child, and most days we just sort of wing it at this point.
Plumerias are the best. So happy you were able to nurture yours!
J
I hope I can keep the plumeria alive through the winter. I’ve been reading about it, and I have hope…
Stephany
My mom just told me that the reason she decided to adopt Chip is because she saw a dog on a walk with a toy in his mouth. He was just so cute, she knew she needed a pupper for herself. It’s so cute when dogs go on walks with their toys! (Chip, btw, cannot go on a walk with his toy because he destroys every stuffy in 5 minutes or less. Those “safe for destructive chewers” labels are a LIE.)
My mom and I shared a steak when we went to a fancy steakhouse for her birthday. Mostly because it was SO EXPENSIVE for one steak, and it wasn’t even that big lol. I mean, big enough for us but it still felt excessive.
I will giggle at all Mitch McConnell memes because he’s a garbage human and deserves the worst place in hell.
J
I love all of this, but your last sentence made me LAUGH. Abso-frikken-lutely!
ernie
Happy anniversary – 22 oz is quite the meal. That dessert looks amazing. I love the stuffy carrying dog. That’s a big committment to take on a walk. So funny. Your squirrel is a hungry fellow. I’m so impressed that you turned a pile of sticks into a plant. Well done, you. Ted’s salad looks so tasty. I know I’m late here, but that fog from the fires was nutty. I cannot imagine how horrible it was for people who lived closer. That is such a lovely photo of you and your dad. Nine years, he was so young. Belluno is stunning for sure.
Exciting where we are – Mini got a job and starts next week. It’ll be interesting to see how she manages going to the city every day. Curly is gathering all the college things and crossing things off her list. That’ll be a tough drop off, but she will be flying to KC to meet us at a family weedding the end of September.
J
That wildfire smoke it no joke. We get it around here sometimes, and it’s miserable. Now France and Spain are getting it too. UGH.
Yay for Mini’s job! Going to the city daily is a headache (ask my daughter) but she will gain maturity from the experience (not that she isn’t mature already). Oh, college! Rough times for you, I’m sure.