Raincharm’s Weblog

This colorful pot full of rainbow was on its way to becoming part of tomorrow’s dinner. (And the next day, and probably at least one more.)

Carl spent the early evening preparing stuffed peppers. It’s a meal that uses more pots and dishes than most to prepare but results in tastiness.

There were a few hiccups in tonight’s production. The first was mundane, the rice water just would not come to a boil. The second was much more, not mundane.

The peppers were parboiling, and Carl thought they were ready to come out of the water. He was using some implement to remove them, and then tip the pepper so the hot water would pour out. Whether he thought the water was all out or for some other reason, he handled the pepper, resulting in a “it’s HOT” reaction. He didn’t actually yell but reacted by tossing the pepper into the air. It landed on the floor. Meanwhile, the implement, probably a wooden spoon, also became airborne, landing in the pot with vegetables, ground turkey, and tomatoes/sauce/paste. This mixture was then propelled into the air landing on the counter, the stove, the floor, Carl’s pants, and in an open drawer.

Mind you, I didn’t see any of this. But I did end up cleaning all of said areas where stuff landed. It went into the compost, except the pepper that started it all. It was rinsed and put back into service. The pants didn’t go into the compost either.

That should give you a measure of how interesting our lives are at this moment.

Spring is sprung

Or almost.

Is it because I have started doing our taxes? Or have purchased tickets for the boys Spring Training trip?

Or because our walk today was sprinkled with exclamations of, “look what is sprouting.”

No, not a performance review. These will be short, it’s late – past my bedtime.

We just got back from seeing Boys in the Boat. I will start by saying that I love the book. I have bought several copies. When I tell somebody about the book and they haven’t read it, I give them my copy, and then buy another copy.

The movie was very good. I know how it goes, and I was still on the edge of my seat. My only complaint was the lack of the details of the backstory. But that would have made for a 12-hour movie. I found the first part of the book enthralling, and it is implied throughout the movie, but still.

Now, I really had the backstory fresh in mind because before the movie started, we had an introduction by Judy Rantz Willman, the daughter of Joe Rantz, the oarsman who the book is built around. The movie night out was put on by our financial advisor, so somebody has a connection.

The other review, and this will be short, is a recommendation for the Bear Town trilogy by Henrik Backman. Perhaps more in another post.

This was the start of our snowstorm this afternoon. There was a bit more, but not enough to really cover the railing. I am guessing that instead of snow, we will just be dealing with frigid temperatures. I do have to drive tomorrow, so am relatively happy with the current weather situation. Of course, this could all change overnight.

Carl just opened the door, and I could see a skiff of snow covering my car.

While I was gazing out the window, watching flakes float down, I noticed a single blossom on our apparently confused camelia.

With highs not expected to reach 32 degrees for the next few days, I am curious how this will fare.

Yesterday’s NCAA Championship game was won by Michigan. Or the Ms vs the Ws, per a certain 4 year old. The fact that M and W are essentially the same if inverted was fun for all. Carl’s meatloaf is a case in point.

The meatloaf was not for yesterday’s game. Instead, friend Kevin brought some really tasty chili to share. It was good to share the game with friends both near and far.

I was asked how I could have any allegiance to UM. It stems from growing up in Ann Arbor, going to high school kiddie corner to the Big House, and actually attending more UM games than UW games over my lifetime.

I do root for UW as well.

I was rather hoping work this week would be a real jump start on the new year. But it was a slower start. This really was expected, because I am helping to train a new employee. This will continue for the next few months or more, there’s a lot to learn.

My goal this year is to finish a project that will allow others to do a lot of what I do now, at work. I must find the time to focus on that project, while still keeping up with my normal work and ODAA. Other duties as assigned. I am planning to work on one of those tomorrow so I can check it off my to do list.

Another ODAA that is taking some time, but should be done by the end of the week is updating everybody’s badge at work. Picture taking and printing has begun and I need to impress on everyone that it needs to get done next week, one way or another. And I just realized I have an off-site meeting next Friday, so now the deadline is Thursday. Really just thought of that detail.

We did manage to get a walk in today. The temperature dropped several degrees, but we managed to get home before the hail arrived.

The other recent pictures on my phone are all fellow employees, and I don’t think any of you would be interested.

And I also started to work on a jigsaw puzzle. It is not easy so far. Perhaps I will find a rhythm eventually.

And if anyone wants to take credit for gifting us the mug in the photo (and a partner mug), we can thank you properly. They arrived with no identifying information.

So, that’s my first week of the year. Exciting?

Monday night should be exciting. I am one of those with split allegiances. I grew up in Ann Arbor rooting for Michigan, although I went to school at MSU. But I have lived in Seattle for almost 40 years, longer than I lived in A2. But I have been to more UM games in person than at UW. I guess I win regardless of the outcome.

It’s that time of year again.

Carl’s great found filthy lucre contest.

We walk, Carl finds money and stashes it in a container. At the end of the year, the coins and bills are counted. We send a picture around to the folks in the neighborhood and invite them to guess the total. Closest to the amount wins the filthy lucre.

We have several guesses received so far, and may get one or two more before the midnight deadline. There are 2 guesses this year that are very close to the correct total. Only $1.03 and $1.06 off. Tomorrow the winner will get the spoils.

Today has been a sunny respite from the rain and fog of the past week. We did take a walk today, but I was a bit tired, so we didn’t push it. The tiredness was primarily due to yesterday’s year end blood donation. The donation went well, much faster than my normal drip rate.

We spent some time slowly un-decorating. The ornaments, Santa’s, snowmen, pictures, and other bits and pieces have been taken down and stowed. The lights remain as does the tree. We have compost pick up Tuesday, so the tree’s days are numbered.

For those that have stuck around, the found money total for 2023 is $86.40.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I always appreciate it when it takes more than one hand to count the new books we have to read in the coming year. And some puzzles as well.

It was a relatively quiet day, except for the continuing patter of raindrops, all day long. I don’t know if it ever stopped.

That was OK as we were content. I am hoping to get out tomorrow for a walk and errand or two. And if all goes as planned, we’ll start to get our holiday cards out in the mail.

We are pretty much decorated. We could do more, but I am not sure I have the inclination.

I am not a huge fan of mall Santas, which made stumbling across Santa in the Zoo magical. He was in a tent near the petting zoo, sitting on a folding chair, with an attendant and bag of small animals to hand out. The attendant had a Polaroid camera. No charge. If you zoom the picture and look to the right, that’s where the early photos are. In the first encounter, Ashlan is on my back, and Rey is just talking to Santa, not on his lap. Eventually Santa moved into the new Zoo Store, and it got glitzed up. Anytime the kids aren’t wearing jackets we were inside.

There is always the question of what to do with the picture ornaments. On the tree or elsewhere. Originally, they were on the tree. But our trees are usually not too large, and at this time we have about 125. They would not come close to fitting the tree. Hence the picture wall.

The original ornament wall was in front of the window. We installed it there multiple years. But it blocks the window, and working from home, I like to be able to see out. Last year we put some on the tree, just chose a few. This year, back to the wall idea, but in a different location.

On to the week before Christmas.

I now have a crown, so I must be a queen. Right?

We had a regular cleaning yesterday, and everything was good. Except a decades old large filing in a back tooth was failing. A crown was recommended, so here we are.

This is actually part of my program to limit holiday food overload by having others put restrictions on what I should eat. Carl was sweet and picked up some chicken soup for dinner. My other strategy has to be away from the office on days when other departments have their holiday breakfasts. So far I have missed the leftovers from Operations and Finance, and the kringle on St. Nicholas day. Tomorrow is the office catered holiday lunch. I am not sure what is on the menu, but I will be kind to my new tooth.

The Christmas tree is still at lights only. Potential for ornaments tonight, but I need to work on a Christmas sweater for tomorrow’s luncheon.