Baby steps

 It's hard to get into this blogging thing on a regular basis, but I have made progress in my other endeavors.  I'm cooking everyday, and watching my calories.  Menu planning is fun, but so time consuming.  I do love looking for new recopies and trying them out though.  Some are amazing and some are eh and some, well not going to make those ever again.  It does feel good to get cooking again though and I love it. Yesterday I made Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken.  Today I looked back on my Facebook memories and apparently I had made the same exact thing last year on this date.  Funny.  I guess I like it but it's only a once a year dish, lol.  

                                                    

I was able to actually finish the first 2 books on my reading and just picked up 2 more.  So the first book, I read was Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCourt.  An excellent book and I highly recommend it.  I really got lost in the book, and when it ended I wanted more.  I guess the only thing I didn't get was the title.  I kind of expected that at some point his mom was going to die and he does something for her memory, but no, it was just about his childhood.  Not really sure what it had to do with Angela at all, other than she was his mom, as this book was about his childhood, but none the less, an excellent book and I want more.  

The next book was American Sherlock by Kate Dawson.  Another excellent book about America's pioneer of Crime Scene Investigation and forensic science.  It was very interesting, and while reading it I discovered more book I would like to read so I added them to my list.  My only dislike in this book is that it started talking about Oscar, but to understand him you have to read this and started a case, didn't finish it, because to understand that we had to go back again, and to understand that we had to go back again.  I felt like I kept getting left hanging and then played catch up.  Why not just start with his childhood?  Still it was an excellent book and I enjoyed reading it.

So the whole exercise this is what's giving me trouble.  I do it a couple days and then miss a couple days.  I'm working at it though and I'll get there.  

   Till next time...........

 Yep, it's been a few days since I said I was going to start posting again, but truth be told, I'm actually a really boring person.  There's not a lot of action in my life.  I absolutely love this saying.

Right now I'm in the mundane part.  This past week, I wasn't feeling so great so I went to bed early, but I was able to do a lot of reading and got halfway through my books.  I love the poetry in Angela's Ashes.  Especially this one....

Love her as in childhood

Though feeble, old and grey.

For you'll never miss a mother's love,

Till she's buried beneath the clay.

So many people just don't realize how true this is.  My mom is starting to show signs of dementia and I'm doing my best to spend as much time with her as I can.  I just had breakfast with her at the Book Nook and Java Shop in Montague.  It's one of our favorite spots to go and just sit and talk and enjoy coffee.  They have so much more there though.  There's a book club, Jazz nights, and a fully stocked bar.  This is a place you aboslutely have to check out.  It's comfy, cozy, and just an enjoyable place to sit and talk.  

I also spent Saturday afternoon at the Grand Rapids Veterans Home.  I volunteer there and when I'm done I like to go walking and take pictures.  Saturday was a little cold and dark, so I didn't get many, but I love this memorial to 6 soldiers that died in Fallujah.  One of their buddies had a drink with them and I thought it was amazing.  

 

So anyway, I'm working on some adventures to entertain, but until then, it's just mundane.

#booknookandjavashop

#angelasashes

#loveyourmomma

#drinkwithabrother

I'm Back Baby

Wow, it's been almost 5yrs since I posted anything.  I have to say, life hit me like a Mac Truck and I've been stuck just working and surviving, but here I am again.  The theme of the blog isn't changing though, so if you decide to read let me tell what you what you're not going to get.  I love food, but I'm not always eating out and going to new places.  I'm on a budget people.  I love traveling, but the trips are here and there, I have to work hard to save for them.  Besides, this is a my life blog, not a food blog, not a travel blog, it's just a me blog.  My life is boring, this is all about therapy for me, but some days it's interesting, I try to make people laugh, because life is funny.  

So why have I been MIA?  Hmm, had a grandchild, he passed away, my daughter passed away, my dad passed away the same year, switched to a job that was supposed to be good, but it was toxic, had another grandchild, but he was given up for adoption, moved 1 or 2 or 3 times, switched to another job that was amazing, but then Covid.  Loved the new job, but basically just worked and slept then started with health problems.  Now I have another new job, which is absolutely amazing, more time on my hands, out of debt, health is getting betting and life is starting to get some color again.  

2022 wasn't all that bad actually, went on a trip to Vegas with my bestie, North Carolina to see friends, Georgia to see my grandson and Tennessee to see Joe Bonamassa at the Ryman.  Fell in love, got my heart broke, and got a new job that I love.  2023 is starting off promising.  I have some goals I want to accomplish this year and I'm sure they will provide some great stories.  I'm making time to read again, writing more letters, and cooking.  My goals this year are to remodel the house, exercise more, fit in another vacation, and actually keep up with this blog.  The big bucket list items are to go on a hot air balloon ride and under ground kayaking in Kentucky.

Whew, that was alot.  So there you have it. I'm back baby and it's going to be a good year.