It took quite a few years but pizza shops did start to replicate the recipe. When eating Domino's, Pizza Hut or Papa John's pizza, I'll eat a few pieces and be done with it. I don't want more for a long time.
But this pizza. I am completely lost. I will continue to eat it until my stomach hurts so bad I just wonder why. I feel as if it is a drug. Perhaps it is. A new shop opened up an hour away from me. I happened to be in that area and stopped to get some. So delicious. So gone.
A lot of businesses and other establishments have closed for Sunday and Monday. At least we are not scheduled to get the ice. I remember driving two times during an ice storm. Not a very good time.
I did some grocery shopping yesterday. It was quite busy for a Thursday morning. I chatted with the cashier a bit about panic shopping. I try not to engage too much with the cashier, I read the people behind me and if I see any irritation I stop chatting and get the heck out of the way.
My cat Moses goes to the vet on Monday. He does not like that particular event at all. I had let sister 1956 borrow my cat carrier and I thought yesterday, I'd better get that thing out, clean it up and have it ready to go. Then I remembered. She is over an hour away. It's cold. We're old. So, what do we Americans do? Amazon said it will deliver my new one tomorrow (hopefully the storm won't interfere). She can keep my old carrier since she now has 3 kittens.
I found and made a recipe for a lemon cake. One box of yellow cake mix and one box of lemon jell-o instant pudding. Add 1/2 cup oil and 1/2 cup water and 4 eggs. Bake for 30 minutes at 350º. For the glaze, 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar, 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice, 2 Tbsp water and 2 Tbsp melted butter. Poke holes in the cake after it cools and pour the glaze over the top of the cake making sure some goes into the holes that you poked. I use the handle end of a wooden spoon to poke the holes (I used to make a pineapple poke cake all the time for events). Anyway, the lemon cake stays very moist and the sweetness of the glaze compliments the lemon flavor.
I remember my friend and I ( in the mid 70's) wanted to make a cake for our bus driver's birthday. We had a spice cake. My mom told me how to make the orange glaze to pour over the top. I don't recall how I made it (I do know I used an orange) but I think it must be the same as the lemon glaze.
This bus driver used to put chains on his bus tires. We could hear him coming as the chains made a certain noise. After I graduated high school I worked at an auto shop where we would put studs in car tires. (I didn't do it, I worked in the office, but the shop did). The studs had to be removed by April 15th (tax day!). I never hear about anybody getting studs put in their tires now. In fact I never hear about anybody getting snow tires put on their cars any longer. I guess it's because they came out with front wheel drive?
I also remember cutting keys at this auto store. That was a heck of a process. The machine had two identical parts, one on the left and one on the right where you would clamp the original key on one side and the blank on the other. You would turn the machine on and the two sides would work in tandem. The left part of the machine would copy how the original key was cut and make the identical cuts in the blank on the right side. I used to make these very carefully as I didn't want the customer to have to come back because the key wouldn't work. At first we had to manually move the cutter over the keys ourselves and later we got a device that did it automatically. I was in awe when a few years later (okay 45 years) I needed a couple of house keys made. You just dropped the key into a slot in this box (that looked like a big space invader game machine) and out came your original key and the copy. All those years of cutting keys by hand! Now I'm trying to remember if we had to choose the blank and drop it in with the original or if the machine magically knew which blank to use?
In about 7 - 10 days it looks as though we have temperatures in the below zero range coming. I have a sister who purchased an old fixer upper with no furnace. She's been there two years or so. She has electric heaters and I think she may have a propane one. Keeps her warm if she is right in front of them but what about her pipes? I don't know. She will go on and on about how hard life is for her and how lucky I am that my pipes don't freeze or my car doesn't break down.
Yeah - it's called common sense and maintenance. I purchased a house with a working furnace and I spend a good bit of money on my car so I don't break down unexpectedly.
Some people. You can't win with them. They are perpetual victims.
We make sure all dogs have a collar and their license is attached to it. Years ago I was negligent. I would get the proper licenses for my dogs but I never had them wear a collar. Our two best dogs (Cheech and Chong) rarely left the yard. The boxer I had left the yard about once or twice a year and he would get picked up. One time the police brought him home. I can't remember the details but the dog catcher had picked him up and when I called they just had a policeman drop him off or the police had picked him up and brought him home. Isn't it weird how we can't remember details sometimes?
Our boxer for some reason would end up at the Enterprise rental car location. Or he did a couple of times. I had him 10 years. It was very negligent and I struggle with the fact I should have known better.
Two dogs need to be on a tie/cable when we let them out and one (my daughter's raised from a pup) is such a good dog she always stays in the yard. When I let her out, I put her on the cable/tie. I'm not taking any chances. She isn't my dog.
I've spent hundreds in dog licenses over the years. Glad I don't have to pay for cats. I need to make an appointment for Moses (cat) to get a booster shot. I will call tomorrow. I don't think the vet is closed on MLK day.
We also get a rabies shot and a tag every year for them. Along with all the normal vaccinations, kennel cough and tick/flea medicine. It adds up. Currently my older dog has teeth issues and it costs about $400 to have them remove a tooth. I no sooner get him home and bam - the rotten smell is back and I need to call again. This time I'm going to tell her - take them all. I'm tired of this. I did not have this dog as a young puppy. I only got him about 4 years ago and he was gray muzzled even then. He is showing signs of pain and trouble walking in his back legs. I'll see what the doctor suggests about that. Most of the time it's not fixable, or if it is - there is no guarantee. It can cost thousands.
The last time when the boxer passed and I had no pets, I was able to go four months before I broke down and rescued a dog I saw on Facebook. Sigh. I hope this time I can hold out after poor Milton passes. I'll still have my cat I suppose. He is only 8 years old. I want the freedom of not having to worry about letting the dog out and feeding him. A cat can go longer but I don't want to leave him alone. Currently my daughter and her husband live with me, but they plan to move out of state at some point. They hate the winter. I don't blame them. But, from what I am reading, we all need to just wait a few years and we will have Florida weather up here in the northern US states if Climate Change keeps happening.
I joined the subreddit for houseplants (Reddit is a site with thousands of subjects you can join and chat about with others in similar situations or with similar interests).
I'm learning the best way to get rid of mealy bugs. (I used to feed our bearded dragon mealy worms).
I am no longer squeamish about bugs like the one(s) shown above. Magnified several times via my phone camera. There are two and they may or may not be up to something nefarious. We fed the bearded dragon Dubia roaches and that helped to allay my fear of creepy crawlies (or most of them, creepy crawlies and fears). I would feed the Dubia roaches (which yes, look very much like cock roaches) and then wait patiently (because they are extremely shy) until they came out of their hiding places to feed. I trained myself to see the biology aspect of these creatures and appreciate whatever value they may provide.
The beardie passed away (and they are not my choice of pet so we are done with them) and now I focus on plants.
I am still reading. Just finished an autobiography by Priscilla Presley. I have on my list to read: Tim Curry, James Lovell and I will try again to read Virginia Giuffre's story. In non-fiction I am reading "Down Cemetery Road". I watched the first season of the show (Apple TV +) with Emma Thompson.
A lot of shows I watch are starting up in the next couple of weeks. Call the Midwife, Animal Control, Dark Winds, Shrinking, and Hijack. 'Hijack' was canceled after it's first season which aired in July 2023 (I don't recall what Network) but Apple picked it up. I've only seen the first episode of the second season and I might not continue. Kind of meh. The first season focused on an airplane hijacking and this one looks to be a subway train or tube. Most of it is in a foreign language and you have to read the English subtitles. This does not work well for me because I don't just 'watch' a show. I usually do other things like tend my plants, work a puzzle, play a computer game. The foreign language sub titles do not let me do that. 'Call the Midwife' is a classic but wearing thin in the storyline and 'Animal Control' is just fluff entertainment.
I watched "Song Sung Blue" and I think I recall the original document that was made in 2008. I do know that the wife in real life, Claire - makes a small appearance in this recent version (I did not know this until afterwards so I may go back and rewatch to see if I can spot her). I have always been a Neil Diamond fan. I mean my God! I was watching this and was like "I forgot about this song and that song!" Now, I want to listen to Neil all day.
My sister 1956 was scheduled to have cataract surgery yesterday and I was going to take her. She lives an hour away and the hospital was another 40 minutes. She canceled. She said she didn't want us to be on those icy roads. We didn't get much snow but it was pretty slick and when I went out later (much later) the roads were very slick so I can imagine what they were like at 6 a.m. I was up and showered, hair fixed, dressed and had even started my car to warm up. She messaged me on Facebook and by the time I called her she had drank coffee so there was no going back. She was not to eat or drink anything before the procedure. I said okay, another day.
Both of my garage doors are broke. So we have to clean off our cars when it snows. Yuck. I never had a garage until I moved to this house (2002). Like I said above - repairs, repairs. A garage is a luxury, a new roof is a necessity. I still can't decide on the color. Of course I am getting the newer metal one. I thought I would be the first in my neighborhood to get one but the family behind me did theirs in black. AND they added solar panels. Now, I'm like "Can I...?" After researching I realized 'maybe not.'
My culinary side of life has slowed considerably. I found myself making things that nobody ate and either I ate them, froze them or tossed them. I don't need to eat any more, and my freezer is full. I am not one to over indulge my pets with people food so it was tossed. Such a waste and I realized I needed to stop.
I attempted to help at a soup kitchen for the Salvation Army. What a dork. I was not used to standing for long periods of time and I found myself in such pain by the time I left I decided to postpone it for now. The people were not homeless as I thought they were. The cook said there used to be a guy who slept in the shelter (roofed area with picnic tables) but she had not seen him in a few weeks. I was actually just helping the cook do her work. I was helping prepare the food, put the food on trays and wiping down the tables afterwards. I could tell that she was going to ask me to start sweeping and mopping the floors and I knew my back would not tolerate that so I had to relinquish my time. I will donate money and/or food as I can. The people were wonderful there and I can't help but feel that I let them down. Then I came to find out my niece's best friend from high school works in that area and she is at the Salvation Army facility sometimes. I will reach out to her when I want to donate.
There was another "little" reason I stopped. The cook was warning me about one of the participants who came daily for the free meal. To be careful when I spoke to him because he had a temper. She said if you even look at him wrong it could send him into a rage. I was like "Uh, I don't need this. It may be better if I help out from afar."
I make a list and I laugh. Monday's to do list gets pushed to Tuesday. I need to change the list to "weekly to do list" as it will get done when it gets done, doesn't matter the day. Except the garbage. That one is non-negotiable.
Have you heard of using "weighted blankets" to sleep under? I thought I would like one. In the winter I add an extra blanket or comforter for the weight so I thought I would just order one. I have a Queen size bed so I ordered a larger blanket. It shipped and I didn't realize it at the time but this sucker is 15 lbs. Holy what the what was I thinking? Now, every time I go to bed and get up it feels as if I have been lifting weights. Don't get me wrong, it is nice once I get in and under the darn thing but it's getting there is a chore. I'm wondering if I can pawn this one off on a family member and order myself maybe the twin size blanket?
I am lucky, as nobody else eats corn bread. I had some left over and this morning I fixed cheesy potato soup. I have the recipe on here somewhere from years ago. (Jan 6 2011) I use butter, celery, whatever cheese I have (today was mild cheddar that I shredded), whatever canned or jar cheese I have (such as Ragu jarred cheese - I have also seen this in little thick boxes), Cheez Whiz or Kraft Old English in a jar, any alfredo sauce and if I have cream of celery soup. I use half and half if I have it. This time I used heavy cream and alfredo jar sauce. I save some of the hot potato water to pour into my cans and jars after I empty them into the Dutch oven. I had a can of chicken broth ready but did not need it. For spices, I do salt and pepper, chives and onion powder. I use a Dutch oven to keep the soup from burning on the bottom. I have still burned it but at least with a Dutch oven it is much harder to do.
It came out just the way I like it. I crumbled cornbread into the bowl and added hot potato soup. I ate 2 bowls. I can't recall eating a second serving of anything for ages. I'll do leftovers but I usually eat one serving of a meal and then wrap it up and refrigerate it asap.
Sigh. And of course I have some left over. My sister stopped in today so I gave her some. I may go to my brother's house tomorrow to give him the extra soup and sauerkraut and kielbasa. Actually, I am taking him a cheeseball. My niece requested one for a NYE party she was going to; but the weather got bad so she canceled. I am the only one in this house that eats my cheeseball and I just threw two half-eaten ones away from Christmas. I don't want any part of this one.
The recipe and instructions for that are in this blog somewhere also. Cheese ball May 24 2008, Nov 28 2011 and Dec 29 2011.
2011 was a good year.