how about drinking?

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy TGIF day! Waking up to another cold one, but at least they are talking about sub zero wind chills this ayem. They are calling for a coating to 3 inches of snow today. We're finally really getting rid of the snow we've got and still getting more? Crazy. Sadie's having a good time barking at the deer that are coming out onto the exposed grass on the field next to the house in the evenings.

Chi--If the TSA makes you take off the brace will they help you put it back on? It seems like it could get dicey for some people who need braces to walk to have to take them off, some of them aren't easy to get on in the first place. But I suppose everything has to be checked. I don't blame you for not wanting to travel with a heavy coat and boots, that's just inconvenient no matter how you look at it. I've seen people put socks on over braces and casts before, looks funny but apparently it works!

Illi--You sure did earn that drink, and I hope you enjoyed every single sip of it!

NM's DOTD:

Spinal Tap

Drink Type: Shooter

Ingredients

• 1 oz. Vodka
• 1/2 oz. Peach Schnapps
• 1/2 oz. White Creme de Cacao

Instructions

Shake with ice and strain into a shot glass.

goldie0827

NM, just curious, how much does half a pig cost? If you don't mind telling, that is. Glad that Sadie didn't get hurt in the ruckus, my goodness, what would you do if a fight started? How nice to have the deer in your yard. As long as they don't bother your garden.

Sandy, you sport the brace quite well! Hopefully it won't be a problem during travel. I had to cringe when you mentioned your nail bending back.....OUCH! I can't believe it's still snowing!

Ill, I think I would have been cussing alot too!

Onc is ok with waiting another 6 weeks to see where things are. Again, to have labs drawn about 10 days before my appt. in case we do need to do scans. DH is being send to pain management and the good doc said he should be doing PT, not just the chiro.

illimae

Got an update today from the neuro onc. While the brain MRI showed 4 new small mets, at least the spinal MRI and Lumbar puncture ruled out lepto mets, so big yay there.

Now I’m off to the cabin with DH and a friend for a few days to celebrate that it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

I brought a six pack of various Ales I wanted to try and I have no intention of sharing. 😀

CeliaC

illi - Cheers for the good news!

ChiSandy

Ilona, I'll drink to that!

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Saturday! Woke up to 2 inches of snow this ayem. Saw that it started snowing around dusk yesterday, must have snowed most of the night. Heavy, wet stuff that is sticking to all the trees and bushes and looks very pretty. And the snow was so close to gone yesterday ayem! Even Sadie was disgusted this ayem. She took one step onto the deck and then gave me such a confused look. I tried to explain that I don't control the weather, but I don't think she was buying it.

Goldie--I got my half pig from a friend who is homesteading, this is their first time raising pigs for meat. They asked $325 for a half pig. They use a private butcher for processing, so I could personalize the cuts a bit. I opted for as much bacon as possible, mostly breakfast sausage with just a little garlic sausage, roasts and ham steaks cut and packaged in 1 pound packages. The meat comes commercial level vacuum packed, ready for the freezer. I also got a whole lot of fat, so I'm going to try my hand at rendering lard. It'll keep almost forever if done right, and is far healthier than shortening.Yes, I saw pictures and videos of the piggies growing up--which they do VERY fast--but no, I never went and met them personally. I didn't actually count, but I got around a dozen packages of bacon, a dozen or more packages of pork chops, 2 per package, and a whole bunch of other items. Three big grocery bags stuffed full of meat. The sausage comes in 1 pound packages, not links or patties, I thaw one and break it up and cook it into patties or use it like ground beef in a lot of recipes for a bit of a different taste.The deer so far are staying next door, probably cuz Sadie barks at them. I don't have much trouble with them getting into my garden as a general rule.Praying for clearer, and better, marker results next time around.

Illi--HOORAY for no lepto mets!! Enjoy those ales!

NM's DOTD:

Lemon Celebration

Ingredients

• 1 oz Bacardi Limon Rum
• 3 oz Champagne
• 1 oz Raspberry Liqueur

Directions

Shake gently with ice (the champagne will fizz). Strain into a martini glass.

Best served in a Cocktail Glass.

goldie0827

Ill, we'll take what ever kind of good news we can, eh? Enjoy those ales.

NM, I just can't believe the weather that the East is getting. And let me tell you, it reflects on our end, business wise. Lots of pork there. I wonder what it would cost if you had to buy it all in a grocery store? Do you have an upright freezer for all that meat? Glad the deer don't bother your garden.

Speaking of gardens, we plan on putting some more maters in today. As long as I have water bags to cover them. Suppose to get down to the low 30's around Thursdsay.

ChiSandy

We went out for tapas & paella tonight, so DOTD was Segura Viudas "Aria" rosé cava.

Made it up to 40 today--snow coming in tom'w night, thru Mon. a.m., turning to wintry-mix slop by noon and then rain all day and likely into Tues. When's it gonna be spring again? Why, as soon as I head out of town to Rome, of course.

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Sunday Funday! The weather is being truly bizarre this year, but we go through this every year to some extent. All though we don't usually have quite so much snow in April.

Goldie--buying the half pig worked out around $3.25 per pound of packaged meat, give or take a bit. A pound of bacon in my local grocery store is on sale for $5.99/lb store brand,ground pork for $3.99/lb, bone in ham steaks $4.29/lb, store brand sweet Italian sausage $3.99/lb, pork butt bone in $1.29/lb, ribs $4.29/lb, pork chops $2.69/lb. Overall I think I probably break even compared to buying in the store, but have the advantage of knowing exactly where the meat comes from, how it's raised, what it was fed, that extraneous chemicals weren't used. Most commercial meat growers use antibiotics regularly, dosing the entire herd at certain times to prevent diseases from getting a foothold and it also causes faster weight gain. The only chemicals this meat has been exposed to is the vaccinations all piglets are required to have. While my friends aren't certified as organic growers (it costs an amazing amount of money to get organically certified and is dependent on what your neighbors use as well as what the grower uses) they follow organic principles and practices. Very little organic meat is available in the local supermarket and it tends to cost twice as much as the store brands. So I figure I'm coming out ahead of the game in peace of mind alone if not financially. Plus, the meat tastes so much better to me than the store bought meats do.I do have an upright freezer, one of the best investments I ever made. Cooking for one is hard enough but it's also a lot more expensive unless you can buy in bulk and repackage and freeze. Temps supposed to get DOWN to the 30's for you? Here 30's is still UP most of the time! Now is the about the time to start seeds inside for this part of the gardening world. I'm planning to do some of that over the next couple of weeks.

Chi--Of course spring will come while you are away! How soon is your trip?

NM's DOTD:

Spring Fever

Ingredients

• 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
• 3/4 oz Mango Syrup
• 2 oz Orange Juice
• 1 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice
• 2 oz your favorite Rum

Directions

Shake well over ice cubes in a shaker, and strain into a collins glass half-filled with crushed ice.

Best served in a Collins Glass.

ChiSandy

"Arrividerci, Chicago" next Sun. at noon; "buon giorno, Roma" the next (Mon.) morning. Booked in Premium Economy on Alitalia (unfortunately, the ORD-JFK and JFK-ORD legs are all-steerage in a Delta regional jet). I did put in a blind bid for an upgrade to Business Class on the Alitalia legs--could know as early as Thurs or as late as Sat. whether it was accepted. Sleep will be a plus, as I will be leaving ORD much earlier in the day Sun. than usual for a European flight, and the trip's opening snack & coffee reception (and check-in at the host law firm a few blocks from the hotel) is at 1 pm Mon.

I see more vino in my future that week than is advisable....

illimae

My DOTD is a yummy Texas Belgian style beer, White Noise from Saint Arnold brewery and I paired it with a fantastic view 😀🍺

ChiSandy

I'll ask Gordy's girlfriend if she's heard of it. (She's from Katy).

illimae

She has but maybe not this particular flavor. I highly recommend it though. Now I’m having their Christmas Ale. Good too but I like White Noise better.

mistyeyes

illimae- your picture is beautiful.   I can imagine I am on your porch looking at that view!  breathtaking!

ChiSandy- I am so jealous !!!!  Have fun on your trip.....double fun...some for me too!.

Jazzygirl

Hi ladies- happy end of the weekend. Been super busy with yard work and reorging some of the house with indoor plants going outside. Pruning, mulching, putting some plants in pots, yard clean up and more have left me tired at the end of the weekend. Today the winds were high so I was working more on the indoors. Got the pantry reorganized and also cleaned out the fridge (too much old food there). Spring cleaning is well under way!

I went to my stylist yesterday for a new hairdo, a short deconstructed bob. I had my hair in a longer shag, but have been noticing that my hair is thickening on top? I suspected maybe a result of the AIs, which I know cause hair loss and now off them for five weeks now. I wanted to even things up and did ask my stylist if she saw new growth on top and mentioned I had come off some meds that were known to cause hair loss. She said definitely yes. Anyways, she took off a good four inches but the new look was worth it!

Chi- so sorry to see your brace and hope you are able to negotiate the airports with the brace and L sleeve. How exciting to be off to Rome next week.

Ill- that view is spectacular. Your race is coming up now, right? You go girl.

Mistyeyes- how are you doing friend?

Goldie- is your mom still in the hospital? We are both in the same situation with the dry and wind out here. All the moisture coming off the coast to CA is going north of here, maybe you too. I hear Denver is getting a bunch of rain and snow. The weather has been lovely, but the winds are wicked when they come (ah choo). I hope your DH is feeling better soon. You sound like you are holding steady with your labs.

NM- you and Sadie are still negotiating that white stuff. My east coast peeps are tired of winter, I know several here in the midwest are too. All that talk of bacon! I get smoked green chili bacon from Whole Foods that is to DIE FOR and one of my fav things there. I hope you have a good week and those hospice people behave themselves.....

Dara- think of you friend and let me know how I can help?

Cami- how are you and things with Leslie?

Checking on the Karens too. Also Celia C. Who am I missing?

I hope everyone has a good start to the week and will be sharing more pictures of my gardens soon as the blooms really get going. It's SPRING in the southwest!

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Monday Monkey Day! Only 25 degrees this ayem, but temps should warm up to the 50's by the end of the week. As long as it get above freezing during the daytimes and the snow keeps melting I'm ok with it. Sadie has found the mud puddle in the yard, so technically mud season has arrived! The silly dog does love mud puddles.

Chi--Sounds like a fun trip for you! Except for the steerage legs, but probably not anything that can be done about that. Can you cut back on the vino this week so you have a vino deficit to make up travel week?

Illi--WOW, what a view!

Morning, Misty!

Jazzy--sounds like your spring cleaning really is well underway! Good for you. So glad to hear the AI hair thinning is reversing itself. And that you are happy with the new look. Yup, still getting white stuff as of a couple days ago, but it should be over now. Next precip predicted is rain. Waiting to hear if Hospice has any work for me this week. If not I will move ahead with the application to the other office. Very tired of winter, but hopeful that it's over.

NM's DOTD:

goldie0827

NM, nice price for the organic piggy. We have an upright freezer too. Mainly because we only go shopping once a week, so good to always have something in the freezer. Ahhhhh, mud season for Sadie!

Sandy, you leave this coming weekend?

Ill, nice view to enjoy your ale.

Jazzy, we did some yard work this weekend as well. Still have more to do. Well, I guess it's on going now. Windy here too. I love your new do that you got.

My mom is still in the hospital. Now she has a lung virus. She is miserable and coughing a lot, which is realy wearing on her. They also have her in isolation. Yard work on Saturday and cleaned windows yesterday.

Jazzygirl

I have not posted any music here in awhile. Catherine Russell was here with the NM Jazz Festival a few years ago and sang this. I love it!

ChiSandy

Woke up to 3" of snow. Most of it was gone by midafternoon, but the Cubs had to postpone their opener till tomorrow. I feel sorry for people who flew in for the game and have to go home tomorrow. Still flurrying on & off but not sticking. It will be warmer by the end of the week but then colder by Sat. aft. Chance of rain (or ugh--wintry mix) Sunday morning. Natch, my Delta flight to JFK leaves at noon so I have to be there by 9:30 am. And if it takes off late, I will probably miss my Alitalia flight to Rome, because I have to change terminals via a train and go through TSA all over again--and I have only a 2-hr layover. Alitalia swears they'd never have offered me this option (they list it as a single flight despite a change of plane, terminal and even code-share airline) if 2 hrs would have been too short a time window. If I miss that flight due to anything other than my own pokiness, they said they have to put me on the next flight out to Rome, same class or higher, even a different airline if possible. We shall see.

Had a nice Grenache-Syrah at a local Indian restaurant (Mango Pickle) last night, along with house-made ginger/lime soda that was sort of like a spicy virgin Margarita. Ate leftover seafood paella tonight, fleshed out with leftover sardines and some more chopped peppers (red, poblano). Bob opened a 2010 Maryhill Viognier (white) on Fri. night--I had brought it upstairs in the "here goes nothing" department, due to its advanced age for a white wine. He left me a glass' worth and refrigerated it. So I poured 2 oz--WOW! Still pale straw color, good long "legs" down the glass, floral-tropical aroma, slightly off-dry and just plain luscious.

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Hoomans! Silly Sadie, here. I'm famous! My hooman sent a pic of the lovely me to another hooman's website and it's posted!

http://www.evanovich.com/2018/04/readers-pets-336/

My pic is number 8. My hooman like this hooman's books and reads and listens to them on audiobooks in the car when we go for rides. The hooman is called Janet Evanovitch and the stories are funny mysteries. One of the pretend hoomans has a pretend dog named Bob that love to hear about.

Good Morning, Loungettes! A very interesting day at work yesterday. I did them one huge favor and really pulled the company's fat out of the fire yesterday, that included a 101 mile drive, for which the system only allows me to claim 100 miles. Gonna definitely look into that one, even if only 1 mile, there has got to be a way to account for it. Added bonus, I got a text from one of the other nurses involved that made me realize that she is being (cleverly)manipulative and really not to be trusted. It is so hard for me to not trust people sometimes. I guess you never are too old to learn new things. Got work again today and Friday this week, so that's back to normal. Still looking for alternatives, though.

Goldie--Yup, the freezer is a great asset to have. Sorry to hear about your Mom being so miserable. Sounds like she might have gotten caught up in the second flu wave that's going around. I hope she feels better soon.

Jazzy--great music!

Chi--yuck, waking up to any snow this time of year is NOT FUN. Glad it's melting off fast. I truly hope the Alitalia folks are correct and you have enough time to make the connection. Even if they will put you on the next flight it's unsettling to miss a connection. Oh boy I wish I could have a taste of that Viognier, it sounds wonderful!

NM's DOTD:

Barking Dog

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Gin
• 1 1/2 oz Dry Vermouth
• 1 1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth
• 1 dash Angostura Bitters

Directions

stir over ice, serve straight up

Best served in a Cocktail Glass.

goldie0827

Sandy, hoping all of your flights are on time and you miss none! Michigan is still getting snow as well.

Sadie, I saw your famous pic. All snuggled up and sleeping!

NM, glad you are wise to the manipulative nurse. And that's quite a deal on the pig cost, especially knowing that he/she is organic. It's hard to get answers as to what is going on. My brothers don't ask, and mom can't usually remember. She's just miserable. Just lays there waiting the next pain pill. She wanted cough syrup, but they told her no, that they wanted her to cough it up. And all that coughing takes alot out of her.

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Hump Day!Got to sleep this ayem, so nice to wake up gradually cuddled up to Miss Sadie. Got some errands to run later today, then Wednesday, Women and Wine get together this evening at one of my favorite places. Currently have a big batch of bacon in the oven cooking off, going to give it a maple syrup basting about half way through. Next batch I'll sprinkle with brown sugar and sea salt. I love fixing bacon this way, nice and crispy, just needs a quick warm up to go with breakfast or all set to go for BLT's. Can't wait to make BLT's this summer with my own tomatoes and lettuce, fresh piggy bacon, and maybe homemade bread. And yes, I know how to make mayo, but I'm not going to go that far. Last night I tried a new recipe from Home Fresh, and it was surprisingly good! It was a flat bread, pre-baked until lightly toasted, covered with mozzerella, then thinly sliced fuji apple slices alternating with thinly sliced onion, sprinkled with goat cheese and baked until the apples were tender and the goat cheese began to brown. I skipped the arugula and candied walnut topping (not a fan of arugula, didn't want to take the time to candy the nuts) but boy was it GOOD! I didn't think it was going to be so good, I thought it would be one of those interesting to try but won't bother with again dishes, but I really am going to make it again. It's quick, easy, and I am already thinking about trying it with feta cheese on top rather than goat cheese, and trying different apples.

Things are getting more interesting in the Hospice office. I ran into the newest Clinical Manager (she would be CM#5 for those keeping score) at a facility I was seeing patients in.She's so new she's still in orientation. She is already fed up with some of the office maneuvering, particularly regarding CM#4 and one of the other per diem nurses, and is questioning if she will stay in the position. All of a sudden a bunch of little things fell into a pattern in my mind and I see how I am being used by a couple of people as they try to manipulate their way thought their own agenda. Now that I can see better what is going on it's going to easier to let it go and to stay out of it.

Goldie--Your poor Mom. I know it's important that she cough the guck up out of her lungs, but coughing is so exhausting, too. Have you tried calling the hospital yourself? They'll have to get your Mom's permission to talk to you but that's a 2 second deal. Or call the hospital and ask for the doctor to call you back after his/her next check on your Mom. I know it's hard to keep up with stuff from a distance.

NM's DOTD:

goldie0827

NM, I'm sure you will see more flags pop up at hospice as others are now getting frustrated. Girl, I think it was YOU that got the ball rolling and so glad that you can see those sneaky ones trying to take advantage of you. I've never had goat cheese before. Interesting meal, apples and onions.

I have had permission, in other places, do be on moms chart to be given info on her. I really don't think there is much they can do for her. And she is suffering so, and so miserable, no QOL at all. I just wish God would take her.

Boy, I think we are going to be sloshed by this afternoon. Only the 2 of us to drink that big bowl of punch.

ChiSandy

After running errands, nibbling on some Jollibee* "Chickenjoy" (wanted to see what the fuss was all about, and I still don't know) and catching up on e-mails, I went out with Bob to Cellars to pick up the wines we ordered at last week's tasting--but the kitchen closed early and so did the restaurant. So we hit the hot bar at WF and went home. Bob saved me a glass of 2015 Ch. Graville-Lacoste Graves (Sauv. Blanc), and I am savoring it now. Nice grassy & grapefruit notes--no "cat pee" bouquet (there are no eucalyptus trees in Bordeaux).

* a Filipino fast-food chain that Bob's medical partner (she's from Manila) raves about

ChiSandy

And Sunday night at Mango Pickle, we were seated next to a table full of "bros" (you know the type--aging millennials and younger Gen-Xers pretending to be millennials, ironically dressed in tees, lumberjack shirts, windbreakers, cargo pants or Dockers, Hush Puppies or canvas high-tops, nerd-chic glasses, carefully cultivated face-scruff, etc.)*. Probably had to wear jacket & tie all week, working in various banks on LaSalle St. & tech-incubators in whatever former factory district du jour has become hip-ly overpriced. Their ringleader (tallest, heaviest, scruffiest, ball-cap) was reading the menu aloud and sneering about the "monsooned Malabar" coffee--saying, "I don't care about woodsy or floral notes--I just wanna know if it'll give me a buzz. And [he turned a sidewise glance at me] these wine snobs swirling their glasses really piss me off with their affectations." He then took a swig of a craft-brewed IPA...from the bottle.

I stifled any impulse to say anything, much less toss my Grenache/Syrah in his face (it cost too much to waste). He didn't realize that swirling a wine in the glass releases more aroma and makes it taste better--because you don't do that with beer...especially not if it's still in the bottle. Meanwhile, the guy sitting immediately to my right (the tables were 12" apart, and the banquette was one continuous padded bench along the wall) was about twice my size, constantly jiggling his knee, and laughing uproariously. Now I don't mind laughter...but not when it shakes the entire bench and, by extension, my table--I had to keep my hands in my lap because if I rested my forearms on the table, it shook along with the bench every time he laughed. Poor Bob sitting across from me was watching his own beer sloshing uncontrollably (along with the water in our glasses). We breathed a sigh of relief when the six of them finally managed to divvy up the check and leave. (So did everyone else sitting along our wall).

*(Not to be confused with hipsters, who--despite having less money--care immensely about food & drink).

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy thirsty Thursday! Bright, sunny morning here, with frost on the clothes I hung out on the line last night. I'll need to wait a bit until the sun burns off the frost before bringing them in. I think I'll wash the sheets and comforter today, and have a nice fresh, outdoor smelling bed tonight. I'm working on getting myself motivated to take Sadie for a walk today. I need to start walking again, I need to get back to the 3 miles a day I used to do. The snowbanks on the sides of the road have melted enough to make it safe to walk on my road, and it's warm enough to be comfortable. So I really have no excuse any more. If I can get Sadie back in the habit she'll keep me on track, it's just the getting started that is so hard.

While I was killing time yesterday I found a couple bottles of 19 Crimes wine! I got the 2016 and 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon. Can't wait to look up the stories!

Goldie--It may be I was the one to get the ball rolling, and I hope other staff are being open with how they feel about how things are going, but I suspect many are just avoiding going to the office as much as possible. It's interesting to watch the dynamics from a bit of a distance.I've had goat cheese many times, there are a number of local farms that raise goats and make goat's milk products. You may have had it without knowing, it's usually labelled "Chevre." It's a soft cheese, a bit firmer and dryer than cream cheese, tends to be a bit drier and not as creamy as cream cheese, is considered a mild cheese with a tangy taste that works really well with all kinds of add ins. My favorite add ins are the herbs and garlic. It's spreadable, hard to crumble without first freezing it. Feta cheese is the closest to Chevre that I can think of. I thought the onion and apple combo was going to be odd but it was REALLY good! I'm planning to make another one for dinner tonight. Is your Mom still in the hospital? If she is, ask for a Palliative Care consultation. They will look at the whole picture and let you all know what is going on, what the possible and likely outcomes of various treatment approaches are, and they will focus on comfort and quality of life while her other doctors focus on curing the pneumonia.It may be time to be thinking about what her goals and wants are regarding her health issues. It may be time to shift the focus of care from curing to comfort. At least you would all know exactly where things stand. {{{hugs}}}

Chi--a Filipino fast food chain? Somehow I never thought of Filipino food as being fast food, but I suppose any food can be fast food. Or hasversion of fast food. Was the Chickenjoy very spicy? I've worked with Filipino nurses in the past and the food they brought to the potlucks was usually really spicy. Sounds like quite the dining experience you had! I really don't care for places with tables crowded so closely together for just that reason. I can picture the "bros" who probably spent more time making the face scruff look just right than most women spend on hair and makeup! I secretly laugh at them when I see them.

NM's DOTD:

goldie0827

Sandy, I think I would have asked to be moved to a different table! Funny story, my step daughter and her hubby had gone to TN and stopped at some wineries. We were out with them one time, forget what for, but he was telling us all about swirling wine and smelling the cork and all, but at this time he was drinking beer, and didn't he swirl his beer!

NM, I really don't think there is a "cure" for my mom. I don't actually know at the moment where she is. She was supposed to go back to the nursing home yesterday, but when I called last night I didn't get an answer and my brother, who said he was going to go visit her last night, never answered my text. I will suggest the Palliative consult. Ended up crying myself to sleep last night, thinking of how alone she must feel. At least when she was home she had her aide 3 days a week and Zeus. Now she is just stuck in a room all by herself and hardly ever anyone coming in. I love pulling bedding off the lines, smells soooooo good. I'm sure Sadie will love going for a walk with you.

With DH hitting all of his appts., he came down with a cold. I think it's hitting me today. Dang it! So much for bragging about not being sick in forever.

ChiSandy

Lori, the only reason to smell the cork is to tell if it's moldy--in which case the bottle is "corked," send it back. I usually just feel it to make sure it hasn't dried out in storage (but an unscrupulous restaurant would just turn it upside down before bringing it to the table to open). Always make sure they open it in front of you (and read the label to see if you're getting what you ordered off the list). If they bring it already opened, send it back. If they say that's their policy (one place said it's because the cellar or kitchen has "the big corkscrew"), tell them you will not be having wine there and you won't pay for that bottle. Every server should have a waiter's corkscrew in order to open the wine in front of the customer. Swirling is another story--it creates waves that not only aerate the wine in the glass (it'll never "breathe" in the bottle) but releases more aroma and flavor. (Swirling beer will just make it go flatter sooner and possibly get your clothes wet).

There was one winery in TN that hired us to play the guitar festival it sponsored. At sunset, the daytime concerts were over, and they invited us up to the hilltop for hors d'oeuvres and wine. It had been Yom Kippur and I was starving, so I hit the food big time. Drank a little bit of their bubbly and then played our evening set (didn't want to play sloshed). Then went back up the hill for the wine-tasting, and realized when you drink enough, everything tastes better than you'd thought. Went back to my room (they put us up too), hit the Jacuzzi and went to sleep...but couldn't until the "black whirlies" abated. Meanwhile, the musicians in the other rooms were jamming outside, but I didn't want to embarrass myself (and certainly not change back out of my PJs). Next morning, I recalled which of the wines I liked the best and went to the winery to buy some to take back home. Of course, the one varietal grown on-site, Sangiovese (which was really good) was out of stock. So I bought their bubbly and a white native-grape hybrid called "Chardonel." When I got home, the cork had already begun to lift and the wine ooze out of the bottle of bubbly--and it was awful. (Can't fault storage, because I had stopped in Sparta, IL to do some recording and stored it in the air-conditioned guest room; and all the way home the temps in the car were 68 or below). The Chardonel? Afraid to open it--will save it for when Bob wants something to knock off in a night.

Kim, Jolibee is a Filipino fast food chain, not a fast Filipino food chain. Everything is decidedly American, and lowbrow at that (mushy spaghetti & bland tomato sauce baked into patties or served as a side; the chicken is more like KFC's Extra Crispy--but they ran out of spicy). Was hoping they'd have actual Filipino food--pansit (thin "cellophane" noodles with veggies & other garnishes), lumpia (slim fried egg rolls, adobo chicken. Nope. Seems when it comes to fast food, Asian (including Middle Eastern) countries want American-style. No Panda Express (much less authentic Chinese fast-food) in Shanghai, at least when I visited. (There's a KFC with a 1-1/2x life size statue of the Colonel at the Great Wall gate nearest Beijing...the only part of the chicken they serve is the left wing...).

When I was at Brooklyn College, NYC had a chain of German wurst shops called Zum Zum: bratwurst, weisswurst, bauernwurst, knackwurst; birch beer for the teetotalers and light ("hell") and dark ("dunkel") draft beer for everyone else. No idea why they went under. There was also a sit-down family-style chain of Viennese restaurants called Wienerwald (Vienna Woods). When I moved to Chicago, I was delighted to find an outpost of a chain called "Wienerschnitzel" (based in CA), but was chagrined to find they served no schnitzels, just hot dogs & burgers. (And Chicago is so persnickety about hot dogs that there's a great stand in almost every neighborhood--the chains don't stand a chance).

I was also hoping to find Korean-style sweet/spicy chicken legs & wings, like at the DC-area Bonchon chain; but our neighborhood Korean takeout place, DAK, does only the wings. But they're big enough to be pterodactyl wings. They also have bibimbap & bulgolgi, but no chap chae. (Bonchon's is almost as good as the chicken legs),

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy TGIF day! Waking up to some rain and fog this ayem. Much better than snow! Woops, looking at yesterday's post and realizing the DOTD recipe wasn't complete! Sorry 'bout that. Looks like the critical info is there, though.

I got a text fromClinical Manager #1 yesterday wanting to know when I am available next week. And then another text asking if I would see patients in one facility and a home patient in another geographic area on the same day. Get this--the patient and family is asking for me, specifically. Talk about a bargain chip!

Silly Sadie says "good morning" to everyone!

Goldie--It is so hard for someone to be in a room alone and on isolation precautions. Even when there isn't a cure for someone, traditional medicine tends to continue to treat along that path unless someone takes steps to change the focus, and Palliative Care can help with that, if that is appropriate. What I'm thinking in particular is that if repeated bouts of pneumonia are to be expected, does she want to focus on curing each bout (with no cough medicine, going to the hospital, IV antibiotics, etc) and living as long as possible, or does she want to focus on being comfortable (staying in the nursing home, getting cough medicine, maybe not getting antibiotics at all or just oral antibiotics) knowing that she will live a shorter length of time.A surprising number of people do not know they have a choice, and once they do many choose comfort over a longer life span. Of course, some people choose the other way around, and that's ok, too. Once a patient has chosen, everyone knows what is wanted and what is not wanted and it's easier to deal with the whole situation. As to catching a cold, I'm not sure it's possible to take a plane ride and not catch a cold, and hopefully it's only a cold that you catch!

Chi--that oozing bottle of bubbly must have been truly awful. I can't imagine. OK, I see the difference between a Filipino fast food and fast Filipino food. Seem kind of too bad, I like trying food from different places. LOL a the left wing Colonel! I love Birch Beer, funny to think of it being served at a German restaurant!

NM's DOTD:

camillegal

Good Morning my lovely ladies, I miss u all so much.

I skimmed over the thread so I havent gotten a chance to read much---I just hope and pray things are going well for everyone.

Oh Ill sounds miserable what u've gone thru but u earned every last drop u want to drink and hope u enjoy ur getaway too.

Sandy I think I caught u were leaving this Sunday, we're all jelly of u have a wonderfully safe and happy trip.

Kim whatever is going on with u I feel u are smart and tough enough to make sure u take care of urself with work. U have come a long way with really standing up for urself in the time Ive known u.

Lori I think about u with ur mom a lot, prayin things are getting better.

Jazzy always hoping the right job comes up for u.

I know I''m missing so much, I like being busy, but this is really gettin out of hand for me by the end of the day I'm cock-eyed. Kinda fun actually.

Leslie is doing OK for now, her surgery won't be until after her rads and so far the rads haven't zapped her with energy wipeout, but I can see it starting. Joey seems to be a smidge better too.. All we can do is wait.

Jeez I started this an hour ago, I'll have more time this weekend.

LUBS U ALL