So...whats for dinner?

MinusTwo

Eric - Glad to hear from you. Are you both retired now?

Diets make for weird meals. I hate to turn the oven on when it's always over 90 degrees, and I'm not very hungry when it's hot anyway. I'll be having tomatoes & cottage cheese again today for my mail meal. Snacks will be Jarlsberg cheese hunks, cantaloupe & grapes. Tomorrow I'll try a new "Red Fork" lemon sauce for sauteing asparagus.

SpecialK

eric - happy belated Father's Day! Can't seem to get organized and wish people happy stuff on the right day, lol!

minus - I am with you on the not being as hungry when it is hot - I like the fruit and cheese plan! I make a lot of main dish salads during the summer - plus they are fast. When DH goes to the gym after work on the weekdays we don't end up eating until 8:30 or 9, so something light seems better. He is having some vascular work done early next week so will not be at the gym for a couple of weeks and we can have more regular meal times, at least for a bit.

eric95us

I'm also one with an appetite drops a bit when it's hot. And, it's hot a lot around here! :-)

I'd go crazy if I couldn't get outside to exercise. My feelings are going out to your DH, Special, on the "no workouts for a couple of weeks". I tend to go out in the morning when it's not so hot and the sun isn't in "heat lamp mode". I've run when it's 110F/43C, in the full sun..IT IS NOT FUN!!!!

Yes, we are now both retired. As soon as the sourdough bread (outside oven!) is done, it will be going into our "pop-up" tent trailer and we (Sharon, dogs and hopefully DD) will be heading up to Potato Patch campground (at 7,100 feet elevation) for a few days when it's not crowded.

Lacey12

Okay....have to vent this again....I REALLY HATE TO PACK!! /// Just not good at it!

Have spent today organizing clothes to pack that might manage the NJ anticipated heat and humidity, and then all the books, gifts, and other items I am bringing to the kids. Am about to make the vegan version of the carrot/zucchini/apple muffins I want to bring to the crew. I am so happy they still eat eggs in baked goods!

Tonight we had grilled chicken breasts that had been marinated in World Harbors Sweet Chili sauce. I had added fresh minced garlic and soy sauce to the marinade. They were tasty! Made a big salad with horseradish dressing to accompany as well as a sweet potato for DH.

Part of the reason for the grilled chicken was to bring the (many) leftovers to the docvegan household, where it is easier for us to bring our meat protein, than for me to try to make that and a whole vegan meal for the docvegans. On the way down tomorrow, we plan to stop in Tarrytown to eat to avoid the food culture differences altogether!

Looking forward to seeing the grands, and I have packed waaay to many items for us to use for arts and crafts! Am also bringing some herb plant kits to plant with the grands in memory of their beloved maternal grandfather who was a true steward of the earth, and always had a lovely herb garden.

Meanwhile...I STILL HATE PACKING!!

Have a wonderful camping excursion, Eric. And Happy Retirement to you and Sharon

Off to bake...

ChiSandy

I have packing lists in my Notes app for trips of various lengths, occasions, mode of transit, etc. I update them depending on what fits & what's clean (fit is the wildcard because I keep gaining so I have to try stuff on). I print out the list (including meds) and take it upstairs. I keep a small rollaboard stocked with beauty, skincare, hair stuff, first aid, a duplicate makeup bag, etc. so I can concentrate on just packing clothes & shoes.

I still detest packing.

Dinner tonight (after a long 4x/yr salon color, cut & keratin session) was leftovers again: fish & chips in the "Airfry" tray of the toaster oven (only one piece of fish--Bob reached in last night and grabbed the other and gobbled it cold, leaving the container lid askew...sort of like a marauding bear at a campsite); while that was cooking, I made& ate a small Caprese with bicolor heirloom tomatoes, domestic buffalo mozzarella, homegrown basil, aged balsamic and basil-infused olive oil. Still hungry, alas--may raid the freezer for the last three Buffalo wings.

illimae

I love packing! I packed the following for a 6 day trip to Florida last month.

In my backpack, 1 pair of flip flops, 1 summer dress, 1 Bermuda shorts, 2 jeans, 2 t-shirts, 3 cami/tank tops, pajamas, underwear/bra, bathroom bag and medications.

In my carry-on bag (which was a beach tote), I had my purse, iPad, 2 additional beach bags (got 3 for me, BFF and BFF’s mom), a portable speaker, beach hat and lunch.

Tonight was fish tacos using cod, DH will eat cod but not many others.

ChiSandy

Ilona, I have to shake my head when I read advice on how to pack light, especially for women--all fine & dandy for the slim or even average-weight middle-aged person; but those of us who are old & obese have to constantly dress and groom to put our appearance in a flattering enough light to balance or even distract from our bulk (and rapid aging). Camis and tank tops? Summer dress (I assume you mean sleeveless)? Bermudas? We jumbo shrimp fireplugs don't even dare wear Capris. One of my bras (underwire, of necessity) takes up as much room as three normal-size crushable ones....That goes double for those of us with bad & feet and ankles & blister-prone sensitive skin--flip-flops??? Foldable flats? Can't wear any kind of thong sandals, unless I don't mind getting sores between my toes. And all my shoes are orthotic, even the daintiest of which are bulky. Then there's my iPad (an improvement over a laptop), chargers, hair products & tools (my hair tangles & frizzes at the drop of a hat, and all hotel shampoos have sulfates & salt, which would strip the keratin & color out of my hair. And no way will I cut it short unless I end up having chemo do it for me...it would age me 10 years immediately). The kind of backpack that would hold what I'd need for even a 3-day weekend would be too heavy for me to wear without throwing out my back.

MinusTwo

Well - I'm a fan of packing light. I'm over 70, but the older I get - the less I pack. I don't take much more than Illimae. I do have short hair now since chemo, but even when it was long I always had a 'wash & go' cut. I never wore much make-up - only a bit on my eyes. For a full week, I take two pair of jeans in case I spill spaghetti sauce on one - lol. Depending on the trip, I might add a pair of dress pants but you can wear nice black jeans almost anywhere. I don't bother with dresses, but I have a long skirt that I can wad up & toss in. One pair of shorts in the summer - cuddle-duds in the winter. 3-5 tops. Thanks to neuropathy, I don't own heels anymore. (One positive point.) I wear one pair of bulky (ortho) tennis shoes so i don't have to fit them in the suitcase & take one pair of something like loafers or mules or flats and yes, a pair of flip flops. Most of the time I color coordinate so everything will mix & match with black & white. But of course, everything goes with levis. Even my bathing suit is black - more slimming, or at least I feel thinner.

Add a folding canvas bag/small duffel for my Kindle & sweater & purse & a snack the plane (and my sleeves & gauntlets). Not to mention that with the LE I can no longer lift a heavy case into the overhead compartment anymore.

Frankly I'm past worrying about what other people think. I'm clean & neat & appropriately dressed and I'm off on a wonderful adventure.

carolehalston

I don't even like to read about packing! There must be a packing gene. Some of us are born with it and some of us are not.

Monday after my 5:30 WW meeting, dh and I went to Sparkling Water restaurant, his pick from Google research. It was on the elegant side (a view of Lake Bemidji) but we felt perfectly welcome in our casual clothes. He had a burger topped with cooked onions, served on a slice of marbled rye bread. A mixture of regular and sweet potato fries. He enjoyed his meal very much and thought the sweet potato fries were the best he'd ever eaten.

I had a pesto kale crusted walleye fillet with small red potatoes and several slices of baked tomato. It was very good. The garden salad with blue cheese dressing was fresh and good. My meal came with slices of hot bread and butter.

We indulged in a slice of carrot cake for dessert, my idea since dh didn't have cake for his birthday.

Yesterday I played golf at 12 noon and dh was supposed to cook baby back ribs for dinner. Foil wrapped and cooked slow on the grill was his plan. He failed miserably and the ribs were still raw when unwrapped at 6:30. So a quick call to Clancy's for broasted chicken, dark meat. Delicious as always and eaten with good ole Bush's Original baked beans.

I will coax the ribs into an edible state for tonight's dinner.

Eric, congratulations to Sharon on retirement. Looking forward to hearing about your adventures into enjoying leisure.

illimae

Lol, ChiSandy, dainty or slim, I am not. However, growing up at the beach and living in a place so hot in the summer, dressing light is a must. Btw, I forgot, I also had my swim dress and full length coverup in the backpack too.

eric95us

I keep my disaster deployment bags packed so I can just "grab and go". I do change things a bit in the fall and spring to account for the weather and when I get home everything come out so I can make some adjustments with what I bring for the next time.

I don't particularly like packing either.

MinusTwo

Illi - I got to thinking maybe clothes & make-up choices are partly based on where we grew up & what our Mother's did. I grew up in CA and never wore shoes unless it was unavoidable (like school). I was much more interested in being outside every available minute than fooling with clothes & make-up. When I went to college, I still can't believe that a number of my sorority sisters got up at 4-5am to get ready for a 9-10am class. Me...I'd rather sleep in any day. I moved to Texas from New Mexico after the "big hair" era was over, and the rest of the world was finally wearing levis. Woo Hoo.

My Mother didn't put on make-up every day. She did carry a powder compact (to keep her nose from shining I guess?), but only added mascara or rouge when they were going to the opera or ballet or their 'gay 90's' dinner/dance group.

Our junior high did not allow lipstick at school until ninth grade, and by then I usually found it more trouble than it was worth. The boys I ran around with were much more interested in boating & baseball than feminine wiles. Also remember, we're talking the 60's so lots of natural flower power influence. I'm sure other parts of the country had different customs.

Eric - this subject must be extremely boring for you, or a bundle of laughs.

MinusTwo

And back on the food track... dinner - large salad w/cukes, tomatoes, broccoli, celery, carrots, avocado, slivers of red cabbage and the lettuce i had in my fridge - yup - a bag of iceberg that I snagged for $0.59. Hope to get some red leaf lettuce this week. It's on sale for $0.98.

illimae

I agree minus 😀

Tonight was grilled chicken, a boiled potato and salad.

SpecialK

Tonight was shredded turkey and cheese enchiladas with red sauce and guacamole with rice and beans for DH, and a salad for me.

bedo

For dinner I had the same thing I have every day.. lettuce, spinach, radishes from the garden, avocado and eggs. It will be nice when the "warm weather" vegetables start coming in and I can start gazpacho and other things.

There is so much to catch up on, but I see that everyone has been keeping busy

Lacey, my daughter and grandson, who is one, and I took the swan boats in Boston the other day. I go to Jamaica Plain about once a week to see them.

Being lazy these days and working just a few days at camp this summer, maybe 2-3 months in the Fall.

Going for an exhausting one day trip to Atlanta today to deal with a locker of antiques. that I left when I moved about 10 years ago Awaiting many snafus

I saw my oncologist yesterday who reminded me that it's been 7 years with no problems. Very grateful.

I hope everyone has a wonderful summer

eric95us

Were out camping where there is no internet...so it's reading during trips for ice.

On the makeup....I preferred the tomboys. Even in Junior high and high school, I had no interest in the "makeup-girly-girl" types. :-)

ChiSandy

At my age, we're talking mostly tinted sunscreen & spackle, plus just enough eyeliner, mascara (actually, brown lash primer), blush and lip stain so I don't look like I just crawled from the crypt. Giving up on the spackle soon, since concealer doesn't really cut it for me any more--that's why I have so many pairs of glasses.

When I was in jr. high we were allowed to wear lipstick, but no eye makeup. Never tried it till tenth grade. I wasn't a tomboy but I wasn't fashion-forward either. I was a baseball fan, but had no athletic ability whatsoever. Terrible dancer, too.

Packing this weekend is a challenge: not only do I have a 3-day trip to Lake Geneva for our godson's wedding, but I fell again yesterday, and it's bad: broke my R elbow (radial head) and perhaps L scaphoid. Walking through hospital corridor, I took a step but the "non-skid" rubber sole of my shoe refused to follow suit--it gripped the terazzo floor and down I went. (Broke my glasses too--my cheapest Zennis, thank goodness). So having had ltd. L wrist mobility anyway (in a splint-brace), now I can't really use my R hand for much except typing, signing my name, carefully slicing foods, and (when I take it out of the sling) basic toileting. (More detail would be TMI). Have to do my eating with my L hand, because I have too little ROM in the R arm for my R hand to reach my face. (And unless someone can fetch a dish from the cupboard for me, I can eat only finger food, as a paper plate is too soft to cut any food for which I need a fork). Can brush my teeth & hair only with my L hand--good thing I got that Brazilian Blowout Tues. night because I can't hold a hairdryer & brush with the same hand. Icing & elevating several times a day. Putting on my bra today was a challenge--can't really fasten it in front & turn it around because both my boobs and belly are too big. (Ditto for trying to step into it too). I refuse to wear a muumuu to the wedding. (And my makeup will be truly minimal--either using my L hand or lifting a magnifying mirror to my face so my R hand can try).

Obviously, next week's gig is canceled. And in a way, it's a good thing that 3 weeks ago I backed out of playing the processional at this weekend's wedding, giving the bride & groom time to find a substitute. Imagine if they had only 2 days to do so! As to said wedding, Bob says he'll drive...but only his little Fusion Hybrid, which doesn't have enough room for the 3 of us and even our minimal luggage. (The guys have to use suiters--I will wear knits I can roll up so I can take a tote and a tiny rollaboard). He refuses to drive my Subaru--"it's too unfamiliar," also the reason he will go months without a car repair because so are rentals & loaners. Amazing how set in his ways he can be at only a year older than me. So I messaged my surgeon, who let me out of the sling yesterday to drive myself home. Hoping he greenlights me to drive--but I will make the menfolk do everything else for me.

Getting tired of pasta or avocado toast.

illimae

Tonight is a very shameful guilty pleasure, chicken flavored ramen noodles but I was craving it.

bedo

illimae you should have that that sounds great. Ramen noodles are so comforting and I have loved them since College

MinusTwo

Sandy - sorry about your arm

CT scan today to resolve the previous scans after rads showing lung nodules. Hopefully they have resolved or at least not changed.

I sliced & diced and have cucumber & onions with a touch of tarragon vinegar & a bunch of dill marinating in sour cream. Then I went to a friends house for the killer bloody mary her DH makes and two glasses of Malbec. On my. I usually limit myself to one drink & one wine - and I certainly don't pour as liberally as this guy. My slightly loopy dinner was two tuna sandwiches on small Hawaiian rolls (needed the bread) and strawberries dipped in sour cream & rolled in brown sugar. Two aspirin before bedtime - which will be shortly.

Bedo - so glad you're back.

illimae

bedo, I did, it was great and ramen got me through the bad taste part of chemo. 😋🍜

ChiSandy

Minus, fingers crossed that the lung nodules turn out to be just granulomas.

Bedo, Ilona, I haven't had ramen in forever, but we lived on it in grad school. There are upscale ramen joints around Chicago, but I don't know if their noodles are as comforting as the old-school carby-salty-fatty 1970s staple.

Bob apologized for being so late--turns out he first had to nosh on pass-around apps and sit through a presentation from a defibrillator company. Brought home a large filet mignon (rare, so we can reheat at breakfast), twice-baked potato, asparagus & Key lime cheesecake. Discovered that if I stood up over the chopping block I could slice the steak by putting my back & shoulder into it. Had about 1/4 of everything savory except the asparagus--I had 3 of 4 spears. Taking a break before I pack the pills and then my clothes (and he & Gordy clean out the car). Have a bit more mobility than I did this a.m.--propping my arm up on pillows allowed me to drink from a wineglass held in my R hand. Hoping a couple more icing sessions and sleeping with my arm in the sling elevated on a pillow will work. Bringing 6 instant ice packs in case room service doesn't have any. Will try on what I plan to wear Sat. (with the same bra but a different color), and if it fits, will have a sliver of cheesecake. If it doesn't, I'll just finish packing.

carolehalston

I don't recall ever eating ramen noodles but there's always a large selection at the supermarkets. I always think "salt" when I notice them, obviously from what I've read about them.

We were venders at a flea market yesterday. DH is a wood turner and he displayed some of his beautiful bowls. I displayed some lovely placemats I created and crocheted cotton dish cloths, also very pretty if I do brag on myself. I didn't sell anything. Didn't really expect to since my prices don't compare with Walmart. People tend to be looking for old rusted stuff or cheap "buys." DH sold some of his bowls, more than enough to pay the $20 fee for the site. If we could deposit all the compliments in the bank, it would be profitable.

It's interesting chatting with people and doing some people watching. I was struck yesterday with how many people limped, walked with canes. It was almost like being in south Fl.

I use cloth placemats at every meal even here in the camper but I don't think a lot of people do use them. I started making my own when I couldn't find any to buy that suited my taste. We also favor real plates over paper except for lunch fare like sandwiches. I don't like "wet" food on paper!

After the flea market, we came back to the resort and mowed grass. I was tired afterwards and hungry last night. We had a burger cooked on the grill and a salad full of blanched veggies and other additions like avocado and feta cheese.

We're playing couples golf at noon and eating out at Iron Horse grill in Nevis with the golf group. We like this restaurant which makes great pub style food. They make their own smoked brisket for sandwiches.

I seldom go everywhere without a minimum of makeup. Tinted sunscreen, mascara, and lipstick on too-thin lips. I was a natural blonde and feel like I'm invisible without a little artificial color!

SpecialK

Last night was a pork tenderloin that was already packaged with a Greek marinade, I put sweet potatoes alongside to roast, and then added some pecans at the end, also served some steamed green beans with dill.

I love ramen! Sometimes for a quick dinner I sauté carrot, onion and cabbage and add hot sauce and a little soy at the end and put it over ramen noodles - sometimes add in leftover steak or chicken. It is a great quick dinner. DD had "for real" ramen last month in Japan - which was beautiful, she sent me a pic. We just had a new place open downtown in an old building - it is a marketplace type upscale food court right on the river - the place is mobbed all the time - but they have a ramen spot - it looks amazing and will have to try it sometime soon.

I really need to grocery shop - I have almost no fresh food in the house. I have been raiding the pantry and freezer to make dinners. This relates to makeup - I had my blonde eyebrows micro-bladed (essentially a tattoo) six months ago, and my touch up was a week ago. You can't sweat for 14 days afterward as salt causes the ink to fade prematurely. This was no problem originally as the first time I did this was in November. However, it is now June in Florida - HOT! So, I have been hiding in the house. I was not even taking the dog out because in addition I had a 3cm incision for a skin cancer removal on my shoulder - lymphedema arm, and didn't want the stitches pulled by the dog - who becomes undisciplined when he spots a squirrel, lol! Now the stitches are out but I have to try to stay in the shady part of the yard with the dog.

More on makeup - I was always a makeup girl! I even wore makeup to the beach and that is probably what has protected me from too many facial skin cancers - I have had two on my face - both within the last year, but more than 40 on other body parts. DD is far more sporty and outdoorsy than I am, definitely always a tomboy, but she did the brow micro-blading before I did, and also has eyelash extensions. This allows her to essentially go makeup free but still look great, of course being 28 helps with that, lol! I tried the lash thing but I am allergic to the glue! This is consistent with my trouble with adhesives - can't do steri-strips or most types of bandaging.

chisandy - ugh on your poor arm! I hope you can still enjoy the wedding and please be careful!

MinusTwo

Carole - I'd love to see some of your placemats. AND the wooden bowls. Can you post a picture or two? I'm always on the look out for crocheted dish cloths. Anyone who's ever used them knows they are worth the price.

Off to have Japanese lunch with my ex-DH. We usually manage to have lunch every 6-8 weeks even after being divorced for 25 years now.

SpecialK

minus - love that you and ex-DH are friends, my BFF had that relationship with her ex-DH too - they even vacationed together!

MinusTwo

We just didn't see any reason to be enemies, but we wouldn't be vacationing together. His "new" wife (of 22 years) listened to her high school girlfriends who said she should not allow us to be friends or ever see each other, so for year or two we didn't fraternize much. Ex-DH just laughed. He got my approval before he proposed and If we'd wanted to be fooling around, why would we have gotten divorced? And she & I have NOTHING in common, except this engineer type DH.

Japanese Hibachi lunch was delicious. We both agreed we could eat this 4 days a week. Choice of Miso or Onion soup, salad, huge bunch of veggies, fried rice, choice of protein (he had filet & shrimp, I had shrimp & scallops). I ate my shrimp & scallops but brought home 1/2 of the rice & the veggies.

DodgersGirl

MInusTwo— my favorite part about Japanese Hibachi is bringing home the fried rice, veggies, and noodles. So good the next day!

Reading about your lunch made me hungry.

MinusTwo

The Red Hook Skillet Asparagus sauce was delicious. Next I'll try their Thai Ginger vegetable skillet sauce.