New Year's Eve

Happy Birthday Aunt Mary Helen 78 years young.

I had Armando's brother, wife and baby over for dinner last night. I made a pork shoulder roast with dried chili, salt, oregano and pepper in the rub then garlic, a head, more chapolte chili's dry and 3 more poblano. I cooked it for 375 in 2 c chicken stock. rico.

It took 4 adults to keep that baby fret less. She likes to hit and when I stop her she cries...too bad,,everyone but mom stops her. I got salsa lessons too. Cute baby girl though. She is walking more. She loves Lacey. Lacey isn't so enamoured; and runs away.

Today I went to breakfast with my 3 library friends to celebrate my birthday. It's nice to get together quarterly and catch up. Then I was off to physical therapy.

After holding the baby and running around all yesterday my back was killing me. They had me on a bike with my arms. then current and ice in 3 spots, my lower back, my middle back and my neck. I go back 1/2, then see the Dr.

Tonight we are going over to my friend Karen's, the immigration attorney, to celebrate and welcome the new year. We're bring crab and tidbits including hunus with pine nuts.

Lost a day

I thought yesterday was Thursday. I think I blew off a physical therapy appointment yesterday which turned out to be Friday. I couldn't figure out why the newscaster wished us a good weekend.

Armando cleaned up the yard in preparation for the rain. Haven't seen it yet.

I ran out of meds. I called Kaiser and fortunately I have one refill on record so I can pick it up tomorrow.

I'm making risotto with crab and mushrooms. You heat chicken broth, fortunately I have somemade on hand. Then you get arborio rice and saute in butter and add a cup of broth. Saute diced onion in olive oil, the oil should be warm first. This cooks for about 7 min. Add 11/2 c. rice to the pan and stir until all the grains are coated. Then add a sovion blanc of wine. Add chicken stock one half cup at a time. Stir and add a bit of salt. I like to add mushrooms too. As the rice gets thick add more broth, stir in this softens the starch. Add parmasean cheese about 1/3 c. and crab and asparagus or peas stiring constantly ,add cream. Top with cheese. This should be creamy. Add butter, stir and cover for 5 min.

I need to make a run to the store I took all my food to Marilyn. She is so infirm and in such a tiny community I want her to have stores for when the power goes out. Her roomate eats it. Marilyn has someone who cooks and delivers meals 3x a week. Armando said she eats a lot and seems hungry. She is tall and skinny and frail.

I'd like to get a tiny kitchen aide food processor.

I want Lobster for New Years. Armando probably prefers carne asada. He made it for us in Trinidad.
May do a lobster gratin with macaroni and carrot and celery, butter, cheese, basil, thyme in a bouquet garni, cubes sauteed lobster mixed with this cream sauce and topped with more. Put under the broiler and voila...heaven..

I thought my t.v. hit the dust last night but the sleep setting turned it off. I had visions of buying a new t.v. today.

I'm watching my cooking shows.

trip from hell

We walked the pier caught crabs, had clam chowder, walked in the woods to the ocean walked in cold rain to the coffee shop after taking Marilyn to shop and get a new battery.

We couldn't leave as a result until 4 ran into an accident in Eureka then it was dark. Rain, rain and more rain. I drove through the redwoods and around Lattonville it began to snow. We should have stopped there but it was 6 and I THOUGHT WE COULD GO 21 MILES. It TOOK US 2 SCARY HRS AT 10 MPH WITH PEOPLE SPINNING OUT ALL OVER. finally WE GOT TO wILLITS AND 101 WAS CLOSED N AND s. There were no hotel rooms to be had. We slept in the car for 2 hrs. then continued home stopping in Berkeley to drop off flowers etc to Marilyn's son and new wife.

Glad I had some experience driving in snow. I don't miss it though!

We got home at 7. a.m. Fortunately I didn't have to unload the car. I'm getting spoiled. I took a hot bath and crashed.

I read till 9 and then slept till noon. I had the house cleaned for 7 hrs and now laundry.

Just finished Web of Evil by J A Jance. Now I'm onto Bad Blood by Linda Fairstein.

Christmas

Well we opened gifts, had breakfast talked to Mikie, Mike and Michael, dropped gifts off for Armando's brother, let him pack and headed out of town. We got to Trinidad about 6.

Armando was going to take the next exit when a pick up truck freaked him blowing his horn because he was going too slow in the rain and instead of taking the exit he took what he thought was the exit and ran off the road.

Then I took over.

We had pasta and a fire while it rained; good company, alcohol and good feelings. I felt that warm contentment of being with loved ones that has been missing for years.

This morning we woke by 9:30 went for breakfast on the pier, walked it off on the pier watching the seals, waves and threw in crab pots.

We got some good ones. The first time for either of us. Armando has to get them out and cook them. Yum and some picked to bring home.

Christmas Eve

We had Armando's roommate Alfredo over for dinner last night. We lit a fire and sat around the tree.

Tonight were going to my friend Caro's for dinner at 6 then, to Armando's brother Carlos and sister in law, Sylvia and their baby Rosaecella for another dinner of carne asada. She doesn't talk just screams Baaaaa for everything. Pa, Ma nothing else. Give me it now. She walks and maybe understands NO!

Caro made a broccoli soufle with bechemel, a potato ring with white and sweet potatoes, pico de gallo, salad and beef.

We're going to mass at the Mission at midnight. Merry Christmas to all!

I got my oil changed and went to physical therapy.

I started the book High Noon.

The day after Christmas, we're driving up to see Marilyn in Trinidad. She's on the ocean. She unlike Carolina who is Nicaraguan, doesn't speak much Spanish.

I'm making sugar cookies, now they need the cool for 2 hrs then be rolled out baked and decorated.

Maybe I'll make a cake to bring if I have time. Well I made an apple cake and one with persimmons.

I baked one sheet of sugar cookies and hopefully I can frost them and let them dry un time to give them tonight. I hate to roll them out. It needs 2 people. My back gives out. They are all flower, butter sugar and b. powder.

Happy Winter Solstice

Armando surprised me last night with an impromptu BBQ with his brother Carlos, his wife and their baby girl. The baby is just over 1 yr. She's grown so much since this summer. They made carne asada, ribs, sausage and I made a salad, green beans, potatoes and green pepper and onion on the grill.

I wrapped up the box a wreath came in and put in some earings, a snowman pen, stickers, a coloring book and 2 christmas mugs with Teddy bear paper.

For their parents a musical Christmas thing in mickey mouse paper and some popouri. I gave Sylvia a water bottle with a bell and candy for the baby and put a bell on Lacey. They invited us over Christmas Eve and I invited them to go to church with us at the Mission at Santa Clara.

They left, I got sick, Armando fell asleep, I turned out the light and left him with the Christmas tree and I climbed in bed reading Patricia Cornwell's new book Book of the Dead. He left. It was only 9 p.m.

My stomach still is not happy. I am not used to all that meat or tortillas. I bought 50 now they are almost gone. Mexicans eat a lot of tortillas. I buy a half a lb. , he buys 5lbs of meat.

Posada

Well I had been to a Posada at the library where we walked about the block but last night I went to one with Armando, There was a large house like shrine to the Virgin decorated with flowers, wrapping paper, candles and Christmas paper. There was a bonfire and it was conducted in the front yard. We said the rosary which was a reading from the gospel and kind of a mass. There was a table and the senora cooked pozole a corn thing with chicken. There was cilantro, onion, chili and tortillas to add the hard ones. There was a punch with sugar cane and cinnamon in it and horchata.

After and hour or so everyone grabbed candles and flowers and climbed into cars and went to another persons house. We started after on one block and met in the middle with all the kids and candles and fireworks and sparklers singing to meet in front of a house carrying the virgin and Jesus and Joseph on a table and sang after knocking on the gate the kids who had gone in responded there was no room but there was room in the stable. We all entered and there was another alter on the patio. There was for mass and songs around a fire bowl. They passed out chocolate with cinnamon and coffee with cinnamon and Mexican pastry. I got nervous watching the kids throw sparklers on the roof and set the empty boxes on fire.

It was nice. I was the only grings of 50 or so.

It was all outside and cold.

I removed yhe old bathroom light box and fixture and put in another yesterdat. Today, Armando is sanding the plaster and repainting. It weems to small. I may get another one.

I'm off to see the Dr. for my back.

Ice

I am still having physical therapy with ice for 20 min and see the Dr. tomorrow. The battery stimulator helps increase the flow of blood and circulation. The the exercises are good for range of motion.
I'll stop by school while nearby. I left a few things in my rapid departure.

I got my only Christmas present yesterday from my friend Marilyn in Trinidad. I've got Armando's and all these fake things to fill the space.
Bob and Pat sent a gift basket from Tuscany, with wine, pasta, marinara, bread sticks, almonds and cashews. One day I'll get to see that part of Italy Rome, Naples, then onto Greece and Turkey.

I haven't had a tree up in years. It's nice to see the ornaments. I love the lights. I like to turn off the light and just watch the tree.

I love a fire in the fireplace when its cold outside. It makes you feel so lucky.

I got I window above the door installed last night. This guy is a disaster. He put a hole in one wall and needs to repaint the living room wall where he put the ladder before. I expect him to clean up after himself as he has glass and wood fall. It doesn't take too much effort to put a towel between the ladder and wall. Fortunately, Armando deals with him. This reinforces, never do business with friends...he is the husband of my dentists receptionist.

We mad a day when all the librarians met. Carol, my assistant, didn't want to go. I felt she should. I didn't push the point. There need to be some changes made. I spoke to my principal and told him what I was thinking. I haven't made any changes so far, but with new people some new ideas and new thoughts, We have different styles. She is very good at her job. I believe in cross training. She is meticulous, I am more flexible. She runs to tattle. I don't like that.

Some of my favorite things

I love having Lacy snuggled next to me while I read
candles
bubble baths
having someone else shampoo my hair
making my favorite Christmas cookies (mom's)
eating my favorite carrot cake
lobster
crab (tis the season here)
opening presents
wrapping gifts and giving them
midnight mass
hot chocolate
Christmas lights
ornaments collected over the ears
fireplaces
friends
mi amor
Christmas break
lavender

Physical Therapy hurts. I got a 3 foot hard Styrofoam cylinder to lie on and exercises to do. I go back tomorrow for more. I need a heading pad. Now it's ice for the inflammation and patches on my spine with an electric current for 20 min.

I'm looking forward to 2 weeks off for Christmas break.

School is out for break tomorrow.

The Aftermath

Dinner was excellent we has champagne and lobster in blur blanc with fin herbs, artichoke soup, homemade sourdough bread and a salad of romaine, cheese, avocado, croutons, blue cheese with anchovies on the side. I can't stand them. Turns out, Armando isn't a fan either. Our entrees were tornados of beef for Armando with chantrelles and a reduction, asparagus, potato fluff and carrot. I had veal in a cream reduction with brandy, asparagus, carrot, what I thought was a parsnip but was more like a white squash. Desert was a sample of all, creme brule, burnt cream, chocolate torte, berries and amaretto cheese cake but no gran marnier souffle.

I misses Michael's birthday call.

The window installer put one window in yesterday. The ladder marked the wall which is a special melon shade of cantaloupe so now he'll have to repaint the whole thing since it was specially matched and it couldn't be done a 2nd time. Armando helped negotiate the price of installationn He told me one thing. Armando said...do you want the work? He said yes and the price dropped 300 dollars. I find it difficult to be so direct. Surprises me. It's cuz I know him.

Feliz Cumpleanos a mi

Well I went to the staff Christmas party last night. The first one was better despite the white elephant gifts. One of the gifts was a live crab. They cooked it fir her too! I got mine stolen 4 times...,once a megaphone once a bottle of wine, once singing,walking penguin.

Armando made me my birthday cake carrot with cream cheese icing of course. Tonight we are going out to dinner a La Foret, a French restaurant in the forest that used to be a boarding house during the gold rush when the silver mines were operating. I haven't been there since 1983. I'm in the mood doe lobster and champagne and a Cosmopolitan.

The painting on the eves was done yesterday, just in time to repaint now that the new windows are in, Watching, It's not an easy task especially balancing and banging away while on a ladder.

I begin physical therapy 3x a week for my back.

Today I go o sleep in, stay in my new flannel nightgown, have fresh squeezed tangerine juice and Christmas cookies for breakfast, read, nap, have some birthday cake for lunch and a bath and soon I'll get ready to go out.

Ouch said the back

After moving furniture in the library after the holiday concert and cpr class I threw my back out. I went to out Workers Comp place where they took xrays, put me on ice, hooked my up on wires, acupuncture with electricity and hydrotherapy, gave me a back brace, hot and cold packs and sent me home for 2 days. Here I am back after 1 still hurting but not as much.

I figured, If I could make my birthday cake, Christmas shortbread and butter cookies, I would be ok. I burst one hot pack with all the gel gunk. Glad it was wrapped in a towel. Guess it wasn't meant to be lied upon. It's hard to put it into my back brace alone.

Armando was here. He did the dishes. He painted the eves of the house and a pannel. Today they are replacing two windows. Please let them be the right size. I want someone else to take the responsibility for the measurements. He did take them but I like to do it more than once and since they are above the front door and in the living room to the l and r of the fireplace I couldn't get up that high or let's just say didn't want to.

I still have one batch of Christmas cookies to make. These require more effort to roll them out and decorate. I got some yummy stuff from my fellow teachers and some birthday cards too. The Principal and vice principal cave me some butter cookies and a card. When I told him I was injured he didn't ask how I was just looked displeased.

Armando and I are going to La Foret, one of my favorite French restaurants for my birthday. I haven't been there since I was married.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

After climbing around in the rafters in the garage I found the decorations. We decorated the Christmas tree. One set of bubble lights hit the dust and of course I didn't test them first so it took awhile to readjust. Now we are tweaking.

I made a wreath for the front door too.Armando finished priming the garage and painted it and the hallway.

I made 2 batches of Mom's frosted Christmas Cookies. I have to figure out a way to get the cookie cooked and the bottoms not burned...maybe silpat.

We had thai food. We love this coconut chicken soup with baby corn and straw mushrooms, carrots and onions.

I made Armando's favorite chicken mole verde with cilantro,toasted pumpkin seeds, onion and chicken broth. I don't like it but he loves it. This is my second attempt to get it right. I don't have a blender and the cuisinart doesn't get it fine enough so I made it as smooth as I could and then took it over to his place and combined everything until he said it was right. Unfortunately, I had to cook it for 30 min and I put it over rice in the oven and the rice absorbed all the mole. FortunATELY, HE HAD MORE MOLE VERDE IN HIS FRIG SO MAYBE HE CAN SALVAGE IT. WHAT i SAMPLED WAS TERRIBLE.

He wanted to talk to Bob but not last night when I spoke to him. He described his
European cruise.

Hanukkah

I got out the menorah one night late and I don't have candles this year so far.

We put up the tree last night.

Actually it's a branch from my huge blue spruce in the front yard. I did this once before about 17 years ago. The tree needed trimming. It's about 60 ft tall and produces a lot of shade for the house. I can't find the decorations though.

I have a tiny tree in the bedroom too. That is decorated.

I've had a girl here in the library with me for 4 days. She had a melt down today and was on my last nerve. She has been pulled out of her classes because she is so disruptive. She does fine with me one one one and likes to help but is inappropriate in her remarks to boys and other s in a quest for attention and acceptance.
She's been transferred to another school into a special day class in the hopes she can get control of herself. She thinks that makes her retarded.

Armando got the garage sanded and primed yesterday and blinds hung in the bedroom.

He trimmed my bushes so I can make wreaths for the front doors.

Karen's Birthday

Today is Karen's birthday. We have been friends for almost 40 years. It was good to see her and stay with her and Rick this spring.

Christmas wish list

THO socks in black and white (the cushion the feet) In the summer I like the low cut ones like tennis) I have them here and got 4 pair in Williamsburg. They are expensive..over $10 a pair.

Black tights Lane Byrant

Starbucks gift card for my hot chocolate

A flannel nightgown

A green rain jacket

Today I gave the secretaries in the office a basket of this great cinnamon bread and butter for Christmas, tea, coffee, plates napkins and a card. They have cinnamon bread every morning and I have been telling them about this brand.

I got all my library student assistants little gifts in gift bags and cards.
I got my library assistant a subscription to Bon Appetit and a card. We both like to cook. She wanted to change it to Cooking Light. She gave me a Christmas card and a box of cinnamon sticks.

Tonight I made some Oatmeal raisin cookies yum...!

Started watching the moving introducing Dorothy Dandridge. It's really good so far.

I made some pumpkin soup last night . I didn't do it this year for Thanksgiving.
It has a carrot, onion, shallot, 2 c stock, 1c. so cream 1 c. cream, 1/2c 1/2 & 1/2, salt, 2 c pumpkin. It's different but rich and good.

Holiday Parade

We went downtown to the San Jose Holiday Parade last night and to see the trees in Christmas in the park. What a zoo. Roads were closed, garages full,valets overworked...

Then we had dinner and drinks again at Il Fornio. I had risotto again with peas, mushrooms, shrimp and asparagus and a Cesar salad. My tummy is queasy so no wine or Cosmopolitan this time. This time I got a calender of Italy for next year and entered in a drawing for a trip for 2 to Italy.

Everyone was dressed up in their holiday regalia and women tottered on impossibly high spike heels. I have a pair that were Mom's They are good for about 10 min 2 mh 2 min. of walking.

From shopping on line I think I have discovered that lands end followed by llbean, Eddie Bauer and rei are the cheapest. I like the free shipping and no malls.

Today we are making wreaths for the front door. The green should look nice against the red. Time to decorate the house and deck the halls.

I still have roses to pick and Armando cut them for me while he trimmed back the bushes for winter.

I have a possum that eats dropped fruit. It hollows it out with it's long nose. They are ugly. It scared me when I saw it through the door.

I ordered my 3 odd sgaped windows for the LR and over the front door. No snow...they can be put in during Dec.

a day in

Today is a day to stay in and I'm still in my flannel nightgown, bed socks and slippers.

I did some Christmas cards this morning.

The black beans cooked with the ham bone. onion, carrot and garlic are fantastic.

Breakfast was ham, scrambled eggs with cream cheese on a sourdough English muffin with fresh squeezed Tangerine juice.

I love that Odwallda juice.

My oranges and lemons are getting ripe. By January they should be ripe and sweet enough to squeeze.

I'm sneezing a bit so resting and reading is a good thing. Lacey is curled up next to me.

I've dot two movies,

Introducing Dorothy Danridge

and Road to Perdition to watch.

I'm gonna put up a branch for my blue spruce as a Christmas tree for the second time. It's unusual but looks ok and my huge tree needs a trim. One 6' branch will do it good.

The blinds are up mostly

Wee the new blinds are up in the kitchen, my office and the spare bedroom. Now to rehang those in my bedroom. The issue is finding replacement hardware,

Armando painted the remaining adjacent dining room wall today. The first color of cantaloupe and the second also specially matched to a stripe in the couch are not quite the same. I wonder if anyone will notice except us.

I'm making a pot of black beans with the ham bone from Thanksgiving. The place smells great.

Armando planted my bulbs today. finally. we BOUGHT THEM IN 1/2/ MOON BAy right before the pumpkin festival IN Oct.

He cleaned the kitchen and vacuumed for me today. It was so nice to come home to an elf that cut the grass watered the plants and everything else.

I got a new flannel nightgown for my birthday from my friend P.J. in Oregon, and a fluffy bath sheet. I soaked my aching back in the tub with my favorite Pellier honey body scrub and soaked till I felt almost normal again.

Unfortunately trying to but the remaining meat off the bone almost did me in again until Armando stepped in again. Bless the boy....

He cleaned up the kitchen afterwards too. then I passed out from 8-12.

I have discovered my principal is a micro manager and wants to know everything. Teachers run to him like nursery school to complain and he likes it like that!?

I don't.