how about drinking?

Karen, Chevy, stay warm & safe indoors--and I hope you have some enterprising young'uns nearby with shovels & snowblowers. At least your state didn't decide to go off the national grid, so I hope you don't lose power. Heaven forfend you do, know that snowbanks make decent temporary fridges. (Used to be how I chilled bubbles for New Year's Eve). You can also partly fill ice chests with snow and put your frozen stuff into them, then add more snow and keep the lid closed for the duration.

Last night Bob came home late for dinner, so I pan-seared sea bass and we drank more of that Clif Family Rte Blanc. (Ordered a case with our one-time 20% discount--we are well-stocked with reds & bubbles but tend to run out of white wines, especially during Lent when I'm cooking fish for Bob, and then when the weather gets warmer. Also a couple bottles of Grenache rosé and one each of Gewurztraminer & Viognier). Unfortunately, I stayed up past 4am trying to air the place out from the fish-stink before giving up. Slept in.

Bob got home extremely early this afternoon and wanted to dine out at a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant because he had birthday dining points about to expire and he was jonesing for seafood paella. We hadn't had tapas in ages so we went to Ba-Ba-Ree-Ba. DOTD was rose sangria and a flute of Petit Albet Brut Rosé 2017.

Good morning! Went on a long drive and hike yesterday. It was very relaxing as my DH did not listen to talk radio and we were able to enjoy the countryside. We drove through several small towns on our way. The poverty and despair was strong. Not sure any of it was caused by COVID-19. The South Carolina low country has been in a desperate situation for years. The tax base is gone and I am not at all sure how they will get that back. Tourism is not the answer, but manufacturing is not coming back.

My newest concern is that my oldest DS and his wife have been ordered back to the office. They adopted this dog mid-pandemic. They asked if I would ‘dog-sit’ for a while. I technically said yes if they would bring a bed and some toys. I said, “You thought it would be cheaper to have a dog!” My DIL got VERY annoyed and said they would find something else. She can be very prickly and can be upset without my knowledge. Was that comment snarky?

Baylor lost their playoff game last night. DH and I are enjoying Broadchurch on Netflix. I get my hair cut next week. Gotta go walk and get my day started. Will try to make steak tacos for dinner. What fun!

Take care!

Hi friends- happy daylight savings. Our state gov did vote to not do the change anymore, but something has to happen with Congress in order for it to be official. So tomorrow we spring forward again. I am okay with it, the time change is always an adjustment, but compared to other things like transcontinental flights and those time changes, its not too bad. I look forward to the evening light starting tomorrow for more opportunity to walk at night and also work on the yard.

I was thinking of Cami tonight too Ill, and wondering the same thing. Family loss and a move for the family is a lot to go through all at once. And nevermind this pandemic. I hope she is okay.

More tomorrow, don't forget to set your clocks again (unless you are AZ and HI) tonight!

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Sunday Funday! Got my taxes done and submitted yesterday, yeah! So much easier this year than last year for some reason, at least after I found and downloaded all the forms I needed. Didn't get much else accomplished, though. Sadie got lots of belly rubs and ear scritches.

Librarian--I think a lot of places have been hit hard before COVID and won't be able to recover without some major changes happening, and that's going to be really hard to come by without lots of money coming in.I guess your DS and DIL being ordered back to the office is a sign of progress, but still I'd be a bit worried, too. I don't see where your comment is snarky. Maybe DIL is very sensitive about the topic of money in general? I don't know. What is Broadchurch about?

Illi--I can't wait for a spring day like you are describing! Pretty DOTD!

Jazzy--Happy is not my reaction as I wander around the house changing clocks! I've been thinking about Cammy, too.

Karen--I'm glad you didn't get the feet of snow that was predicted. Hope you don't get a whole bunch more.

ED, I've seen those jugs of aloe in Wal Mart. Didn't know you were supposed to drink it! Glad it helped your tummy. Veggies can hide very well in a smoothie if you have a good machine that will actually puree it. I'm sorry about the house problems, but you are right, it's old. But it's so cute.

Sandy, like NM said, cute name for the restraunt Lettuce Entertain You.

NM, this is the recipe I used, pretty easy actually. I imagine making your own gnocci would be easy too, but much easier to buy it!

Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup (Olive Garden Copycat) | The Recipe Critic

JCS, well evidently your DIL thought it was snarky! I suppose the dog would be cheaper than a child!

BabyGirl, Cami poked her head in once. She has a new computer and I don't think she's used to it yet. I can call her, if I remember! Nice looking cocktail and snack plate.

Jazzy, did you get any precip? We got a little snow, it's cold and windy. Also, the VI's don't change time either.

Good morning Karen. Sweet of you to wait for DH to wake up to turn the news on.

Cold, cloudy and windy here this morning, temps in the low 20's. Our weather can be so unpredictable this time of year, same with the fall. It can be scorching hot and plain freezing!

DOTD: Income Tax Cocktail!

Yes, Goldie - if you remember please do call Cami. She is sooooo missed.

Librarian - I don't think it's snarky. And you're right, younger people having a pet these days usually does mean LOTS of money. My DIL's dog has been eating nothing but dirt & throwing up. After everything else, they decided to do an endoscopy - $3000. Results not back yet.

We all want to help our kids but we don't want to be taken advantage of whether it's a dog or a child. Dropping a new puppy off every day will be a 'job' (even if it's joyous) so the least they could do is bring the bed & supplies. Oh ... and say please & thank you.

NM - does your Mom still do her own taxes or do you help with those too? I remember when I finally had to take over my parents taxes.

Sandy: We have a Maggiano's in Houston, which I've always enjoyed. So I decided to see if it was the same. Apparently Lettuce Entertain You sold Maggianos to Brinkers in 1995. And they grew it to multiple locations across the country. https://www.maggianos.com/our-story

Don't feel bad. We're stuck with Tillman Fertitta who keeps buying up steak houses across the country (not to mention basketball teams and Las Vegas casinos), Think Mortons (of Chicago) and McCormicks & Schmiciks, and even The Chart House (Boston), although I enjoyed eating in a Chart House in Honolulu.

Good afternoon friends- happy Funday Sunday, Day Light Savings and Pi Day! It was cold and windy here in NM this weekend, and I was out yesterday in all that but home today. I am trying to finalize some plans for my weekend junket in a couple weeks to Truth or Consequences for some hot springs time. I am trying to find a place to get a massage while I am down there and there is a Ted Turner resort property in town where I am checking to see if they will do spa visits for outside guests. Interested to check this place out as I love to do a hot springs get away at Xmas time (not possible this past year), and my favorite springs up north are closed due to a fire last summer, and won't assume they will be open to do a Xmas get away this year.

I did make what felt like a bigger step on the pandemic path back to eat inside at a restaurant this past week. Something I said I would not do for awhile, but made lunch plans with a friend and it turned out to be too cold outside with the winds that have come in this week to eat on the patio. The week before, it was beautiful and spring like. The restaurant had tables far spaced apart and it felt okay. My friend and I are both fully vaxed and we thought it felt weird at first, but also a tiny step forward.

Goldie- we have not had any precip here in the city, although I saw it is snowing all around us today. The valley where Albuquerque sits tends to be a heat sink and so often we are in the "donut hole" and get nothing. But the northern part o f the state is getting a lot of snow, as is is the west and NW corner of the state. Felt like winter out there this weekend again. I hope you and DH are doing okay. I know we are all ready for spring.

Karen- I have a friend who lives in Littleton and she was keeping me posted on the snow up in the Denver area today. I had heard the snow projections were less than expected but you all got a lot anyway. I saw some photos of overturn snow plows on I-70. Eeek. I hope you Denver guys are doing okay (Chevy too).

NM- glad you got your taxes done. My accountant filed mine in late February and I already got my refund this past week. Hope yours is speedy too, if you are getting money back.

Ill, Celia C, Cami, Teka, Mistyeyes, Chi, Minus Two and everyone else, hey!

I am pooped and heading to bed. Have a good week ladies!

Sandy, Also Di Pescara in Northbrook and one in a hotel far north whose long name starts with an S.We frequently get an email from LEYE so that we can order from several of the restaurants together and they deliver to EvanstonA few weeks ago we got food from 5 of the downtown restaurants, different courses from each. It was all inventive and delicious, but very expensive, because they add lots of surcharges- points too though. Tonight, just going to do Andies in Andersonville- good for our vegetarian sensibilities

Karen/ED, you guys really got it! Stay safe, stay warm and I hope you don't lose any power or heat. Karen, you be careful shoveling all of that too. 27+" of snow, no wonder your back hurts, it makes mine hurt. What is the arrival date of your DD, Dr. Karen!

Minus, I did not get a chance to call Cami. Was way to busy. Was supposed to have visitors (to discuss selling the business). They left Phoenix late so did not make it to our place. But I was cleaning up and I also had to keep on top of orders, which I did not finish. Perhaps I can make time to call her today.

Sandy, you sure know a lot of restraunts! Cool names for some. I've not heard of any of them, as others here have.

Jazzy, had a good chuckle the first time I saw that town of T or C, I wonder what the story is behind that. Nice that you got out to eat and felt safe with it. Hope you can get in for that massage.

NM, sorry about getting up in the dark again. As they say, this too shall pass. And I'm sure Sadie likes the cuddles just as much as you do, but boy, it sho is cold there....brrrrrr! Never heard of "DOCTOR of nursing", but go you! Love that you are planning for your summer break. Does Sadie get to go with to your brothers? You sure deserve it after last summer, or lack there of!

As you know, DH is not very steady on his feet lately, unable to walk without his walker. Well, he takes RSO at night to help him sleep. He must have had a little more than usualy and got up to use the bathroom last night, on his return he fell. Knocked the towel rack out of the drywall and then he couldn't get up, doesn't have the strength. Thought I was going to have to call the fire dept, 911 or a neighbor. Well, he crawled to the bed and was able to work himself up into it with some help from me. I'm beginning to think he would do better in a rehab center. I told him if he didn't start getting better, next would be me having to feed him! He said no, that won't happen, that he would get the 45 out. I just don't know what I'm going to do. He really doesn't do anything to help himself. He SITS and does his little bicycle thing, then puts it in his lap and does it with his hands, then he SITS and puts his feet in this massage thing than also does compressions. That's about it. He might get up and walk a little in the house. Nothing with weights, or weight resistance. We have rubber/elastic bands, ankle weights, I made him a platform to step up and down. He does none of it.

Oh forgot. My son was 9 months sober 10 days ago. At certain mile stones they get a coin that has a number on it (months or years sober), and on the back it has the serenity prayer on it. So he did this yesterday!

We all love you too Cammi! WTH? So many things going on with all of us and our families! I'm so sorry.... Okay Lori, try and get one of those plastic urinals for your Husband, like they use in the hospital! When they are sick, they just sit or stand, and can use that, and hopefully not spill it on the floor! It comes with an attached lid, and it really comes in handy sometimes! and congratulations on your Son!!! I know how happy and thankful you are!!! You know, honey, they do drive us nuts sometimes, and I try & not get mad, but I lose my patience also... Just go outdoors and yell, or slam the door, and go back in & go on with whatever calms you down....! After talking to my brother this morning, I cried, then I went outdoors to enjoy the blue sky & sun....! And I'm thankful for this much water for my gardens!

Kenny, my brothers wife is in the Hospital... Too sick with everything, plus her kidney failure, dialysis treatments and just EVERYthing... Won't eat, or drink or take her pills... So he had to take her... He is so afraid! He just wants to be with her... no matter what... I try and keep his spirits up, or talk about other things... but they wouldn't let him see her when I talked to him.....Tried to call awhile ago, but he doesn't answer.

Yes, we got about 18 inches of snow... and so heavy! We have a path shoveled out to the 2 dumpster bins, and to the garage. Another neighbor used his snow-blower to clear the driveway from our garage where my care is... The other driveway in back of our other garage is dug up because of our plumbing problem!

Major job out there.... Everything was backing up! 10 foot trench out back, and 5 feet deep! New PVC pipe put in, but the line is still broken from the alley to the sewer line! WE have to pay for that also. They used clay pipe whenever they put the lines in, like a million years ago. So maybe Thursday another crew will dig up to the sewer line, and replace that.

We are so lucky that we haven't had to put more money into our old house! But I love it.... and thankful we still have each other!

What ELSE can go wrong, right?

Tillman Fertitta also bought The Palm steakhouses--it's part of the Landry Group. LEYE still lists Maggiano's in Oak Brook, so maybe it hadn't sold all its branches off.

Speaking of restaurant chains, anyone know what's gonna happen to Legal Sea Foods now that the Bernstein family sold it? I've eaten at every branch from MA to FL, but it never opened one here.

Well, spring was nice while it lasted. We have about 3/4 inch or so of slop, but it looked pretty while it was falling. (It's frosting the arborvitae out front--but not so much that the lights won't shine through it). Not gonna bother shoveling it off the sidewalk or deck, even if our snow guy doesn't, because a lot of it is already melting, it's turned to sleet and soon rain, and overnight's rain will wash enough of it away. I'll salt before bedtime to prevent icing on the walks, stairs & deck. The alley should be fine--not deep enough to hang up a non-SUV.

Bob is bringing home soda bread his patient baked, so maybe he'll get a head start on the Jameson's...I'm "wined-out" for awhile. Seems if I drink more than 5-6 oz. total after 9pm, I tend to wake up in the middle of the night and have to carb-eat myself back to sleep.

Judy, forgot about DiPescara. I remember Rick Tramonto used to have a steakhouse in the hotel (Hyatt? Hilton? Sheraton?) at the north end of the Milwaukee Ave. "stomach strip" from Libertyville to Wheeling--been over a year since I've had any reason to drive that far north. And we really like Andie's (we find Reza's a bit too aggressively commercial). I might make a Greek salad for dinnner--or perhaps see what Andie's may be delivering. (Or see if Patio around the corner--usually a gyros/hot dog/burger takeout joint--is doing chicken riganati tonight--in which case I'll haul on my UGGs & slosh my way down the alley and around the corner.)

Good morning! Goldie, so very sorry about your husband’s fall. I second Chevyboy’s instruction to get a urinal. My Dad used one for a number of years. He wasn’t happy about it, but NOT falling was a great reward. how is PT going for him?

We now have the kid’s dog all day. Basically, he stays on the mat by the front door. We will have to work on that, but I am happy he is quiet. We did get a short walk in yesterday with no major mishaps. Today it is raining, so not sure how that will go. He never did poop or pee until he got to their home in the afternoon. Today, he will stay later and they will come for dinner. Hopefully we will get into a routine and things will get better. He is a sweet dog, just sad and anxious.

Cami! Just come for hugs. We have missed you and want to know you are doing well.

Take care!