how about drinking?

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Monday Memorial Day! I'm waking up to notices that the speed limit on I-95 has been decreased to 45 MPH because of SNOW. Yup, It's SNOWING in places. Just unbelievable! Where it's not snowing it's raining. I can see on the deck where it's been snowing but now it's the very, very cold rain. Sadie is NOT impressed. Neither am I. No wonder she let me sleep until 7 ayem!

Goldie--Interesting about the rocking and stress. I do like to rock myself, and my recliner is a rocker-recliner. There is so much about human behavior we don't understand yet. You and I both know the flu hasn't gone away, but every day I talk with people who want to believe that it has. You can send some of that heat here to Maine if you want!

Morning, Karen! Photo albums can be so fun and nostalgic to look at.

Chi--it seems like there are so many things that could make a "check engine" light come on that it's practically meaningless! I hope the oxygen sensors aren't expensive to replace.

Snow on the Beach Martini

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup coconut cream
• 1/2 cup Blue Curaçao
• 1/2 cup white rum
• 2 cups ice
• Small dish water
• 1/4 cup white or blue sugar crystals

Instructions

1. Place the coconut cream, ice and alcohols in a good quality blender and mix well, until ice is a consistent and smooth texture.
2. Dip the edge of the martini glass about 1/4 inch into water, and then dip into a dish filled with the sugar crystals to create a sugared rim. Repeat with 4 glasses.
3. Pour 1/4 of the cocktail mixture into each glass and serve.
4. Serves 4.

From <https://sugarspiceandglitter.com/snow-beach-martini/>

It has been so dry here, we are hoping for rain soon. Everyone's yard looks horrible. I am planning on going to upstate NY at the end of June to see family, my mom will be going with me.

JCS- so very sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I am praying for you and your family. Please keep stopping in, we truly care about you.

illi- love the animal pictures. I like barefoot wines.. at least the couple I tried.

goldie - next time the kids come and they tell you to tell them what they can do to help, just plop yourself down and make them a list of all that needs to get done and take a few days off.

Jazzy- I feel very sorry for your sister, I hope she won't have a bad time.

NM - Its nice that your mom got to go and spend time with your brother. It will be a nice break with school being over.

Karen- How scary for your daughter in Israel and for you too. I have been praying for Israel.

Hello to everyone, I hope Cami gets the computer figured out.

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Twofer Tuesday! I got a lot done in the kitchenyesterday, it looks much better and much less ignored that it has for some weeks. Still a ways to go, but at least I can see progress. At least it wasn't sunny and bright yesterday so I didn't feel like I was missing out on nice weather. Now I've really got to start working on the mowing, the grass has gotten so high that Sadie is coming in all wet from running through it! It'll be easier to keep up in a couple of weeks when school is out and I can get outside and take advantage of the dry weather and not depend on it being dry and warm enough to mow after work.

Chi--$200 isn't too bad a repair bill, all things considered. Do you need special equipment to charge the electric car at home? I've wondered how long/far an electric car can go on a charge.

Misty--It was nice to have an entire 3 day weekend all to myself. It sounds like Mom and brother and SIL are having a pretty good time. At least I'm not the only one that can't make Mom's phone work the way she wants it too, neither can my computer programmer brother!

Teka--me too!

AFAIK, you need a 220V outlet into which to plug an electric car--probably a dedicated circuit. More and more parking lots are installing chargers--some, like Whole Foods, free for up to an hour; others, like Walgreen's, take credit cards much like the bike-share stations.

We walked last night to a local pub to dine in their garden. I had a glass of the house Shiraz, and Bob had a Bloody Mary.

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Hump Day! Counting down the days until work is over, kiddos are getting weird and anxious and cranky, teachers and staff are getting tired and cranky, parents are getting very cranky. It doesn't help that the rooms are either boiling hot (like my office) or very chilly. Ah, well, only 8 more school days. . . .

Sadie says Hi to everyone!

Goldie--interesting info about the rocking. Apparently I have way more stress than I thought cuz I rock all the time! But now that you point it out, I see this a lot in the kiddos at school.

Chi--I'll have to keep an eye out for charging stations, I don't think I've ever seen one but there must be one somewhere around here.

Jazzy--sorry to hear about the job changes and issues. You and I may be getting a bit old for the job jumping routine, but that is the way of things now-a-days. And maybe it will all work out in the end. I'm gladyou get to attend the service for your SIL. Your sister will no doubt appreciate the support of family. So nice you had a chance to reconnect with your friend. I bet it does feel like a lot of socialization. It still feels funny to me to walk into a store without a mask. Is flying very differently managed now? I can imagine you do need some rest time to recover from all that you've had going on!

Paper Plane Cocktail

Ingredients

1½ ounces amaro (preferably Nonino)

1½ ounces Aperol

1½ ounces bourbon

1½ ounces fresh lemon juice, strained

Preparation

Combine amaro, Aperol, bourbon, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is frosty, about 20 seconds. Strain into 2 coupe glasses

From <https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/paper-plane-cocktail>

Mornin

Jazzy I'm so sorry to hear about ur SIL This time for ur DS is difficultsending prayers her way.

Karen having ur DD live where she does, u r a strong woman. These times are so difficult for so many but when it's ur DD it's beyond so much. <<<prayers>>>

Hey Teka!!!

Jazzy, the last time I flew into Midway (Nov. 2019), each baggage carousel served two or even three incoming flights. Midway is a much smaller airport than O'Hare, of course--it is a single terminal with three concourses arrayed from the food court like spokes on a wheel. O'Hare has five terminals, three of which are contiguous, and each of them has at least two concourses (except for 4, which is for small private planes, and 5, which is for both int'l and now a gate for a handful of SW Airlines flights). SW pretty much runs the show at Midway (there are a very few Delta & American flights there). We will probably be flying next in Sept. or Oct.--we are contemplating a Viking Mediterranean cruise from Malta that goes either up the coast of Italy to Barcelona or into the Adriatic to Greece, Montenegro & Croatia before returning to Malta. My ocular melanoma, while currently stable, lends a sense of urgency to our "bucket lists."

The kids are in Yellowstone, celebrating both Leslie's birthday and her sister's wedding in Grand Teton Nat'l Park. They flew from O'Hare to Bozeman & rented a car. This is Gordy's first post-pandemic flight, and Leslie's second (she flew to Houston earlier this spring to see her parents). When they went to the TX hill country for Christmas (where Gordy proposed), they drove--dog & all.

We went out to our long-time mainstay Italian restaurant tonight. I'd been putting it off for so long, as I really can't eat anything there that makes it "what it is" and what we used to go there for: no pizza (they make four types), no pasta. But I was able to find something keto-friendly--and a split of Moet & Chandon White Star to wash it down with, chased by a double decaf espresso.

Gordy Instagrammed photos of the special private tasting dinner they had at the Tasting Room at their hotel's restaurant in Chico Hot Springs for Leslie's birthday. I'm drooling.

I have decided to eat as strictly keto as I can, with a large enough meal, at breakfast/brunch. Also, even when eating out, avoiding the starch & sugar & limiting my wine. No dessert till I get home--and even then, either berries or something Atkins-friendly under 4 gm. net carbs. My NP says that, ironically, I don't eat often enough; I'm just not hungry between brunch & dinner, and sometimes I even feel uncomfortably full in late afternoon. (Could be the cat on my lap squashing my gut). The hardest part is no food or drink except water (and my CBN & sugar-free fiber gummies) after 11. I generally get to bed around 1:30-3am, and (except for days when I have a morning appt.) get up around 11-noon. (11 on weekends, because I'm the only one feeding the cats). And yesterday, walking at least 1 mi/day, now that the weather permits it. (Baby steps).

I realized that my weight began to creep up in late autumn when I discovered keto cereals, especially keto granola. While going through the shows I'd recorded on my DVR, I would have a bowl as a late bedtime snack, then another, and then my guard would completely disappear: Cheerios, cookies, dried fruits, etc. I realize now all those are "triggers" for me. Also, late dinners (after 8)--necessitated by Bob's hours when he works late but still wants to go out with me--are playing havoc with my diet & metabolism.

My "cheat meals" will be the wine dinner next Thurs. and our anniversary party on the 26th. After that, I may go even stricter (induction). Since the dulcimer fest will again be virtual, no chance of being tempted by the ice cream vendor. And it's a good thing I'm not a fan of frozen custard, nor of the "flavor of the week," because my walks--fitness or shopping--inevitably take me past Lickety Split on the corner. Were it a gelato shop I'd be back over 200 lbs. again. I was 211 when I began Invisaligns in early Apr. 2019 (because you have to wear them 20-22 hrs./day and brush & floss before putting them back on, snacking becomes a true PITA--the retainers are a bit more forgiving because I can leave them out for 3 hrs. at a time before I can sense my teeth regressing). 196 a few weeks later when my MO, alarmed, referred me to the hospital's weight mgmt. clinic, and 175 when my first appt. there rolled around in June 2019. Bottomed out at 142, which is my goal again--but will settle for 150. (Still fitting into my size M tops and size 10 bottoms).

Might drink tonight, with leftovers, probably some rosé bubbly....or maybe just Bubly. Must...avoid...Aperol spritzers....

BTW, I have everything on hand for that Paper Plane cocktail, but am not at all tempted to drink cocktails--even when I fire up the Drinkworks for Bob.

Lori I hope ur relaxing as much as u can,, u really need to. All u r doing is loads for anyone I WISH U HAD REAL help. I can understand ur DH but it's to much for u.

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy TGIF day!Going to be busy for a bit. There is a surprise retirement party for one of the nurses after work this evening. Monday after work all the nurses are getting together to toast out this last school year. The Egg Drop was a hoot and a half! A big bucket truck parked in the playground, took the student's contraptions to protect an egg WWAAYYY up in the air and then dropped them one at a time onto the pavement. I was surprised at the creativity and how many were successful in protecting the egg! Of course there were lots of cracked and smashed eggs. All in all, lots of fun!

Sadie says Hi to everyone!

Oh, boy, the weather guesser is talking possible heat wave (3 consecutive days over 90 degrees for this area) next week during the last few days of school. With humidity. Nothing like melting out the last few days! I cannot get over the number of kiddos who insist on still wearing sweatshirts and hoodies

Chi--I have to admit I admire your self-control and commitment to the diet.

Cammy Cat--I resemble that kitty!Love the Purrista!

Creme Egg cocktail

Ingredients

60 ml coconut cream

40 ml pineapple juice

20 ml white rum

20 ml coconut rum

Juice of ½ lime

To garnish

Melted milk chocolate

Tropical coulis such as Waitrose Alphonso Mango, Passion Fruit & Yuzu Coulis, frozen in semi-sphere moulds

Directions

1. Prepare a martini glass by dipping the rim into the melted chocolate and leaving in the fridge to chill until it sets.
2. Pour the mango and passion fruit coulis into something that can act as a semi-circle mould (ice-cube tray, egg cup etc) and freeze until it becomes solid.
3. To make the cocktail, pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker, fill with ice and shake for around 10 seconds until chilled. Strain the liquid into a glass, then pour back into the shaker and strain again into the chilled martini glass.
4. To serve, remove the egg-shaped frozen coulis and float it in the centre of the drink

From <https://www.prima.co.uk/all-recipes/quick-recipes/a38431/creme-egg-cocktail-recipe/>

I don't know how I even did that I didn't htt edit it just went to the cat pic. see what I mean.

I hear you, Cami. Only what takes me so long is Happy sitting on my lap, keyboard or in my face. (Takes me all day to do one puzzle, too--it infuriates him to see I want to do something that doesn't involve him).

Bob came home early, so we walked to dinner. He's working late both tomorrow & Sunday. He's been on my case to book the dates for our NYC freebie trip and our timeshare week--but instead of sitting down with me and choosing available dates (which, of course, can't conflict with his echo-reading days, which I never know in advance), he's watching basketball.

Tonight is our last night of sleeping in a room with an obsolete out-of-warranty decade-old window AC unit that buzz-hums louder than a plane coming in for a landing whenever the compressor kicks in...all night. Abt will be coming tomorrow to deliver and install its replacement. We vacuumed the coils, changed the filter, etc.--still didn't help. And they're using a different coolant now. Repairing it (even just replacing the compressor, which is no longer being made anyway) would have cost more than the new one, and almost as much as adding installation. Last night it didn't get down below 79F. We hit 91 today and it's gonna get hotter. Wed. night, it was 59F out--and our heat didn't work until I changed the batteries in the thermostat. Welcome to the weather rollercoaster.

DOTD tonight was Cote Mas rosé--it's National Rosé Day. Earlier, I whirled some FairLife whole milk in the Aeroccino frother--it was the consistency of whipped cream--and poured in a shot of espresso. Sipped it out on the deck. Right now, I'm having half a can of raspberry-lime Spindrift seltzer. (Non-alc.).

Hey All,

I have been loving Fresca grapefruit with the new Royal Crown Apple whiskey. I know, I know, but if you have the ingredients, try it. In fact, Fresca with lots of ice and flavored vodka is awesome too.

Lola