I Just Don't Wanna
We have harvested the pears from our tree. They are Bosc, and they are ripening fast. Several months ago I tore a recipe from a magazine for a pear tart, only to find out that I don't have a tart pan. I know I used to have a tart pan - either one of my own or one I used at my Mom's. (She's been gone for nearly 12 years now!) So I have to figure out whether I should just try using a pie plate instead, and butter it well, or just find a different recipe. But the real problem is - I just don't feel like baking anything. And these pears are ripening FAST. Sigh.
We made it to Trader Joe's yesterday, for a month's worth of coffee. We were down to reserves. Came out of the store $120 lighter. Funny how 'just a few things' adds up so quickly. DH is going to make some vegetable bean soup later and the recipe he selected called for leeks. Two leeks at the store were 1.64#s @$1.99/# which came to $3.24. At Trader Joes 24 oz. frozen leeks came to
$2.98. A lot of things are cheaper at TJ's. But there are also many things that are tempting and not so cheap. It's hard to be a careful shopper. It's also hard to tell the person cooking that he should try to stick to cheaper recipes. I try, but he doesn't want to listen. Oh well. At least he cooks for me.
We got the car back from car camp. Total bill was $820. I know, it takes my breath away thinking about it. But the mechanic thought the engine was in good shape for a 1988; at least he didn't run across anything wrong other than what he was looking for. First he thought it was the crank position sensor, and replaced that, but the problem of not starting repeated. He actually refunded the money for that part! Gotta love an honest mechanic. Finally traced the problem to the ignitor module under the coil pack. Unfortunately, this was a $400 part. But now the car starts, so I am happy with that. But this means I need to pay as much as possible on my Visa card each month. Perhaps it's time to call BofA to see if they will reduce my interest rate, because I am such a conscientious customer.
I did make it to our Rush event on time, back on 10/13. Unfortunately, after all the flyers we dispersed through the complex, and the newspaper announcement, nobody came! So it ended up being a social for us all. Why is it that all these condo "meeting rooms" are so dimly lit? It's crazy. Definitely mood lighting. And this one didn't even have tables you could set up to have a dinner. It would be good for a cocktail party, I suppose, but not for many other types of meetings. Maybe a book club.
We had our October meeting at the assisted living place that one of our members is at. She had a stroke this Summer that paralyzed half her body. She's been getting PT, OT and Speech Therapy, and is getting stronger all the time preparing for the day she can return to her own home which she just moved into at the beginning of the Summer. One thing the stroke has left her with is emotional lability. She was always very stoic, but not any more. She was so surprised that we all would drive so far to see her. She cried tears of joy about it. She isn't supposed to do her exercises without her therapist there, but she does any way. And, yes, she has some bandages to prove it. This is how you make it to 90, people.
I have volunteered to work the Cyclocross race for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital this coming Sunday. I will help out with Registration starting at 6:30 AM. I know! I'm going to have to figure out how to manage to be conscious at that time of the day. Well, at that time of day knowing that it will be the start of my day and not the end of it. And I will have to figure out what to wear to stay warm. I'll probably be layered up so much I'll look like that kid in A Christmas Story! It might be raining, but at least NO SNOW! It's waaay too early for snow.
I guess that's it for now.
Good Night, TTYL,
We made it to Trader Joe's yesterday, for a month's worth of coffee. We were down to reserves. Came out of the store $120 lighter. Funny how 'just a few things' adds up so quickly. DH is going to make some vegetable bean soup later and the recipe he selected called for leeks. Two leeks at the store were 1.64#s @$1.99/# which came to $3.24. At Trader Joes 24 oz. frozen leeks came to
$2.98. A lot of things are cheaper at TJ's. But there are also many things that are tempting and not so cheap. It's hard to be a careful shopper. It's also hard to tell the person cooking that he should try to stick to cheaper recipes. I try, but he doesn't want to listen. Oh well. At least he cooks for me.
We got the car back from car camp. Total bill was $820. I know, it takes my breath away thinking about it. But the mechanic thought the engine was in good shape for a 1988; at least he didn't run across anything wrong other than what he was looking for. First he thought it was the crank position sensor, and replaced that, but the problem of not starting repeated. He actually refunded the money for that part! Gotta love an honest mechanic. Finally traced the problem to the ignitor module under the coil pack. Unfortunately, this was a $400 part. But now the car starts, so I am happy with that. But this means I need to pay as much as possible on my Visa card each month. Perhaps it's time to call BofA to see if they will reduce my interest rate, because I am such a conscientious customer.
I did make it to our Rush event on time, back on 10/13. Unfortunately, after all the flyers we dispersed through the complex, and the newspaper announcement, nobody came! So it ended up being a social for us all. Why is it that all these condo "meeting rooms" are so dimly lit? It's crazy. Definitely mood lighting. And this one didn't even have tables you could set up to have a dinner. It would be good for a cocktail party, I suppose, but not for many other types of meetings. Maybe a book club.
We had our October meeting at the assisted living place that one of our members is at. She had a stroke this Summer that paralyzed half her body. She's been getting PT, OT and Speech Therapy, and is getting stronger all the time preparing for the day she can return to her own home which she just moved into at the beginning of the Summer. One thing the stroke has left her with is emotional lability. She was always very stoic, but not any more. She was so surprised that we all would drive so far to see her. She cried tears of joy about it. She isn't supposed to do her exercises without her therapist there, but she does any way. And, yes, she has some bandages to prove it. This is how you make it to 90, people.
I have volunteered to work the Cyclocross race for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital this coming Sunday. I will help out with Registration starting at 6:30 AM. I know! I'm going to have to figure out how to manage to be conscious at that time of the day. Well, at that time of day knowing that it will be the start of my day and not the end of it. And I will have to figure out what to wear to stay warm. I'll probably be layered up so much I'll look like that kid in A Christmas Story! It might be raining, but at least NO SNOW! It's waaay too early for snow.
I guess that's it for now.
Good Night, TTYL,
Happy Halloween!
That Halloween cats looks soooo much like Jazz. I hope he is nicer than the evil Jazz though.
ReplyDeleteIt horrifies me how expensive grocery shopping has become. And car services. And people services likes doctors, dentists, physios...
That's not my photo; I found it somewhere - but I do have a cat that looks just like that; but my Nishita is a sweetie-pie.
DeleteInflation.... what are we to do?
Car repairs just kill me. At one time I was able to fix my own cars but not anymore... sad.
ReplyDeleteLately, the price of fruits & veggies around here as gone through the roof. Coach eats fruit and protein bars for lunch at school each day. I generally buy him 4 apples, 4 peaches, & 4 oranges for the week. That runs me right around $10... of course it's cheaper than if he was eating out but still....
I love watching that kid all padded up in his snow suit... he can't even put his arms down by his side!!
Stay warm & have fun!!
Cars. DH can usually fix the mechanical stuff, but this was a diagnostic nightmare in the electrical system.
DeleteIt's hard to imagine that 12 pieces of fruit cost $10. It's outrageous!
I'm more concerned about staying warm than having fun, but hopefully both will happen.
You could always just poach the pears in wine with some ginger. Why not do the pear tart in a pie pan? It'll work, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the car, but glad you're getting out and about. 6:30 is the middle of the night for me. I'd be miserable at that time! Good luck.
Peace,
Muff
If I find me some gumption, I'll make it in a pie plate tomorrow.
DeleteYeah, the car. It is what it is. I agree that 06:30 is an un-godly hour for a bicycle race. These guys pay $30 to enter the race, and they think it's FUN!!
I don't worry about food prices, but then I keep thinkig I'll die soon so who cares. Most of my meals are included in rent here, rent goes up every year, inflation...I just eat less and it is better for me anyway. CARS, always a money eater no matter how ya cut it. I am lucky to have buses and be close to all my needs.
Deleteumm pears and ignitor module. Interesting combination. Pear pie sounds super and sorry it was the little thing under the coil.
ReplyDeleteI have been making tomato soup and sauce for the freezer - not as yummy as pear pie.
oh my gosh - what a repair job... i fear mine goinng kurplurk and getting stuck with the bill, you know medicaid won't let me sell it haha. i'd love to sell it and buy a cheaper car. oh well.
ReplyDeletepear pie sounds good to me and so does a warm pear tart but to be honest, i've never made either!!! pears appeared to be temperamental to work with. no?