MAYBE I WAS JUST A TOUCH PESSIMISTIC

 Pessimistic.  Yup.  The insurance will be covering the inside damage.  But there is asbestos involved and asbestos rules changed January 2.  So that will delay the whole process by at least a month.  In the meantime the whole area over there is wet again.  I have a feeling it is going to end up being a plumbing issue.  And that is an easy fix.

It has been super quiet around here since xmas.  Monte and I did stay up New Years to watch the ball drop.  I used love watching the Dick Clark show but not so much this year.  In fact we muted the tv until the ball started dropping.  I hate Motown, rhythm and blues and rap (and I hesitate to include rap in a 'music' list, its just talking dirty, no singing and crotch grabbing and when they run out of words they go uuuh uuuh uuuh, in a grunting manner).

Anyway we watched the ball and happy new yeared each other then went to bed.  Unless you are planning to attend or throw a party there isn't much point to New Years.  And I can't say two people is much of a party. 

 I remember one year when we were driving south with the dogs and kids one xmas, we landed in Yuma for New years eve.  Our hotel was right on the time line so at twelve on one side the bells and horns and fireworks went off.  Then exactly one hour later they did it again!!  So we got two that year!

I am refusing to take my tree down.  I love sitting here looking at the lights and symmetry of the little tree.  It is so pretty.  If I had my way I would leave it up year round!  Plus when it comes down I have to find a place for the big trunk that came out of the guest room/now Monte's room.  It is in the middle of the living room floor being used as a coffee table.  I think it will make its way down to the new guest room when we make it after the insurance fixes every thing.

On the fifteenth I am driving Monte's van over to April's.  Bradley and Aryn will pick it up from there and use it for the next few months for transferring scaffolding to their next job in Alberta.

I am going to stay at Ape's for a couple of weeks.  She is working in a kids' clinic for five weeks and Leeloo will be alone for too long during the day.  She can and has done it but I am quite happy to slide onto their couch and granddoggy sit.  Then after two weeks I am taking LL home with me while she finishes her stint at the clinic.  I am pretty stoked about it.  I love that little mutt.

I read a recipe for shepherd's pie.  Just to see if I am missing a key ingredient or something.  OMG!!!!!  I was absolutely laughing by the end of it.  One precise careful recipe actually weighed the potatoes with a kitchen scale so the potato puff on top would be the proper ratio to the meat below section!!  I couldn't believe what I was reading.  If you followed their step by step instructions it would take all day!

The first thing I did with mine was make a crap load of gravy from some frozen beef tallow I had.  I then cooked and mashed the potatoes with sour cream and a load of Montreal steak spice. (makes it totally taste like baked potatoes).  I steamed some carrots then whomped them down to small size.  Then fried onions, hamburger meat, squirted ketchup in, added carrots and frozen peas.  I dumped it in the casserole dish.  I added gravy.  Then I piled about ten pounds of mash on top and baked it.  It was so far from all the careful recipes.  And it was totally delicious and enough leftovers for several lunches and enough gravy to fill several containers for future.  Okay.  That's my food talk for this post!

Now it is time for laundry.  It is piled sky high down there.  It is pretty much all Monte's, clothes and bedding.  He sleeps all day then is up all night, usually working.  He can't do laundry in the night as it keeps Ange awake so I do it during the day for him.  It's better that way anyway.  Keeps order in that room!!  

At one today, Ange and I are going down to a new used book store opening.  I don't read real books.  It kills trees and pollutes with their ink. Plus I am near blind and the kindle solves that issue. But Ange does so this store will be perfect for her.  I prolly won't go in so I will do a NYtimes crossword whilst I wait.

Gotta bounce.  I procrastinate!  Have an awesome day and TTYL

'I love when I wash a tissue with the laundry....said no one ever!.'  no-one 

THERE IT IS...THE MASSIVE SHEPHERD'S PIE

A PREDICTION AND SEMI RANT

 Have I mentioned I am truly not a fan of insurance.  I think insurance is at the base of a lot of fear mongering and over carefulness on the part of companies.  Cover your ass policies to the nth degree and the detriment of the general public.

As such, I just finished talking to the insurance guy about the wetness happening in the bedroom corner downstairs.  Like a dog on a bone he wants to know exactly when we first knew about it.  I told him I am not sure, it's a room I am never in, and Monte isn't sure when it started, but he wouldn't let it go.  My first prediction is they will find it has been going on too long for insurance to cover it, whether it has or not.

Then he listed all the ways, at my insistence, it won't be covered.  It pretty much covered everything.  I just got an email from him insisting on an 'exact date'.  Geez!!!!!

So I am now going through my finances planning on the thousands of dollars it's going to cost to fix it.  There does come a time when one starts considering the possibility of having to sell and start renting. My money does NOT come from a bottomless pit.

This has not been the best xmas...no doubt about that.  I think I will stop now.  It isn't going to get better here in this post!  Lol!!!  Sorry folks.  I promise the next post will be better.  TTYL

AN UNEXPECTED AND NOT SO NICE XMAS PRESENT

 I received awesome presents from people and a not so awesome one from Mother Nature.

I asked for only one thing this year and Monte got it for me!!!!  A black and decker electric grill!!!  I am cooking for three.  Three things like steaks or a pound of bacon (who am I kidding...a pound...lol!!  it's 350 grams) or pancakes etc...the cast irons are just not big enough and I want to cook once, not twice.  So I am ecstatic about it.

Ange gave me a beautiful table light that changes to different colours and shines through a filigree pattern.  I absolutely love it!!!  I am a sucker for anything to do with lights.

Now for the one from Mother Nature, the bitch!!!  (shovel list..big time).  We had a massive rain and wind storm last night and it has ripped part of the roof up.  Fuckadoodle!!!!  This is when you renters out there be grateful you rent.  God knows how much it is going to cost get it fixed.  And if insurance does cover it the deductible will be about two to three thousand.   I am not happy but that is the life and expense of being a homeowner.

Other than that it was a lovely xmas. Christmas Eve was wonderful.  We made food and right at 7 pm it was present opening time.  It was so much fun!  We played Abba and Boney M xmas albums and ate nummies and didn't drink anything alcohol.  Diet Pepsi.  Not even a rum and coke for heaven's sake!!!  Lol!!  I had cooked at rib eye roast to perfection, warmed up those PC yorkies, melted my frozen gravy I had made before, got out the horseradish and we made yorkie sliders.  Man were they ever good.  And Ange brought smoked oysters and mussels.  OMG...I had never had smoked mussels before and they were amazing!!!!

Then the storm hit and it was a doozy!!!  The racket of the roof flapping, it is a metal roof, was tremendous!!!!  The clouds of rain were blowing straight sideways!!!  And this was the first night in a long time that damned bear didn't harass us!!!!

We all did our part in the cleanup and then I like passed out in my chair.  (I said 'like'..shovel list).  I really fell asleep hard.  I hadn't slept much past 2 am, as usual, then got up at 6ish am and got to work.  Not making a turkey dinner turned out to be way more work in the end but a lot of fun.  But I gotta say, I was totally exhausted by eating and opening presents time.  It was a really good day.

And now it is Boxing Day.  Leftovers tonight.  I have untouched spin dip and seafood dip.  I am sending Monte over to the store to get some sourdough.  The buns I bought are just too soft and not appropriate!  Tomorrow I am cleaning and vacuuming a van, getting it ready to hand off to Bradley and Aryn on the second of January.

Now it is time to prod Monte into taking out the garbage, taking a gift basket of chocolate to the neighbour, thanking them for the amazing awesome Christmas light display they put up every year.  I have been binge watching Naked and Afraid, which makes me either too hot, too cold or definitely hungry!!!!  LOL!!!  Happy New Year everyone!!!  TTYL

BRADLEYBE SANTA

CHRISTMAS DINNER

CHRISTMAS EVE NUMMIES

OVER CROWDED LIVING ROOM ALL READY FOR XMAS

MY 2023 CHRISTMAS CAREFULLY CHOSEN OUTFIT

Adults can take a simple holiday for Children and screw it up. What began as a presentation of simple gifts to delight and surprise children around the Christmas tree has culminated in a woman  unwrapping six shrimp forks from her dog, who drew her name.

Erma Bombeck

IMPROMPTU NESS

 FRIDAY--Yesterday Monte said let's go to Coombs, I need the wee notebooks they have there.  I said sure why not?

So off we went and we hadn't even got to the Coombs turnoff when he happened to mention how next time we go to Nanaimo we should check out Superstore, or Stupid store as I call it.  I had just coincidentally read the PC (their brand) flyer and there were a couple things I would like.  So I said, 'Let's go now!  Why not?" and he said ALRIGHTY!!!  And that is how we ended up in Nanaimo...yet again.  If we were in Gladys we wouldn't have...too much gas.  But Smudge's gas needle doesn't even move on that trip.

Boy did we have fun.  We went to Stupid store and went through there like starving idiots.  That is what happens when you live in Butt F*** BC.  We truly are deprived here for the fine tune stuff.  And Costco doesn't stock those things.  So we went up and down the aisles and bought a few things with glee.  Mind you the one thing that prompted the impromptu trip they were out of.  16 butter layers croissants!!!  But we found other lovely things.  Now the only thing left to get are the buns for the xmas pick dinner.

Saturday--Yesterday I made baked beans in the crock pot!!!!  Man that was easy.  I soaked the beans over night and then you just throw everything into the crock pot, add some water, turn it on high and 7 hours later you have perfect beans. 

 I cooled them off and checked the weather app and it was going to go down to 0-3 degrees in the night.  So I buttoned up the lid on the crock pot and put the beans out on one of the freezers.  I love it when it's cold....it definitely increases my 'fridge' space.  I also had my cast iron dutch oven out there with a ham bone in it.

At exactly 3:25 am my phone rang...woke me up out of a light sleep.  It was Monte.  He tells me that either a robber or an animal is on the deck, he heard the crock pot hit the deck.  SHIT!!!!  I leapt out of bed and barrelled out to the sliding glass door to the deck.  We always leave a light on out there.  But before I actually got right to the door I skidded to a stop.  Right there on the other side was a great big black bear.  He was on his hind legs sniffing around the ham pot I had put on a small charcoal bbq on a small table.  He had knocked another pot off, that is what Monte heard, with half a banoffee pie in it and had licked it clean.  My crock pot was untouched  still on the freezer. He wasn't interested.  I am kind of offended.

  He rumbled around out there for at least another five minutes then took off.  Stupid bear.  His hormones must be broken.  When it gets cold enough their hormones make them hibernate.  This guy is obviously special.  And for some reason he has taken a shine to our house.

Every night practically he shows up and bashes our garbage wheelies around. He doesn't touch any of the neighbours' wheelies and he has never gotten into one.  Now he has discovered the buffet on the deck.  I will have to rope the gate shut and I am not sure he can get over it from the stairs.  Probably can.  Sigh.  There goes my extended fridge.

So today is getting stuff ready for Xmas eve.  I need to make a pot of chilli, get the Jonny cake ingredients ready to mix and bake tomorrow afternoon, get the charcuterie board stuff ready to put on the board, goodies arranged on pretty plates.  I think our drink of choice will be Cuba Libras.  And maybe some Avocat.  Love that stuff and I have half a bottle in the fridge. Plus, as per usual, I still have to wrap all the presents.  Sigh.  This is when I miss Billy the most.  He was such a good present wrapper.  

Plus Monte wants me to go with him on a trek to find good spots to film backgrounds for his new project.  I have agreed but first there are some, read a huge amount, of boxes on the deck that need to be flattened properly, not just by a bear.

The morning is half over so I best get busy.  I am hungry and there is a fat package of pig's head cheese in the fridge hollering out to be in a sammich!  Yummmmm.  I found a butcher that sells beef tongue. Another sammich fave.  Gonna get one in the new year and boil er up!  I shall connect back here on Boxing Day.  Have the happiest xmas possible people...or a Happy Hanukkah!!!!! TTYL

No quote today...they were either stupid bear/bare puns or portraying bears as cute and cuddly.  NOT!!!

I purloined the bear pictures from google images

PARDON THE FRENCH...

ENJOYING THE VIEW

SNOOZLES

BALANCING ACT

CHILLAXING I THINK THIS ONE IS A CARVING

WELL HELLO THERE...WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

YEAH, I THINK HE WILL GET OVER THE GATE OR CLIMB UP LIKE THIS ONE.  SIGH.  I THINK I WILL PUT SOME YUMMY FOOD OUT AND SET RAT TRAPS ON THE TOP.

BEST DAY EVER

 I was taking a gander over my last few posts and I am making the mistake again of getting preachy.  That is not what this blog is about.  This blog is about crap I see here and there, funny stuff that happens, events, not vents, in my day to day.  I write a lot of what I call vents and essays elsewhere.

  It's amazing how I can get wound up about something but I don't particularly want to step on anyone's toes so I write those rants elsewhere.  The last one was about massive furry coal black fake eyebrows some women are sporting these days...you know the Groucho Marx look but because I know some people that are doing that I refrained from commenting too much about it here.  But I sure blasted it elsewhere!!!!

So a happy post.  Monte and I went to Nanaimo yesterday.  We left earlier than normal and we had a fantastic day!!!!  When you sit at home day in and day out, never going out, looking out at constantly fogged in outside, going to town almost becomes culture shock...in a good way.  You need shaking up now and again.

What prompted the trip was that I needed horseradish.  And I only use horseradish, the real kind, not watered down wussy creamed stuff, from Coombs.  Coombs was going to be open til 6 so we decided to go to Indigo, Costco, Fairway and London Drugs first then stop at Coombs on the way home.  Indigo was pretty close to the fat lady store, which I never get to anymore. 

 I needed some new undies to replace some raggedy ugly ones, the kind your mother warned you about not being caught dead in. And let's face it, at my age that rainbow bridge ain't too far away and I want to get there wearing shiny new nethers. Monte kindly stopped for me.

I walk into the place and worked my way slowly to the undie section, trying to keep my blinkers on.  Now fat lady delicates are expensive.  Generally they are 3 for 25-30 bucks.  I get it.  They are big enough to make a tent so extra material, extra cost.  But the panty gods were smiling on me yesterday!!!  They were on sale for 3.99 each!!!!  I grabbed three polkadot ones and tried to walk away to the cashier.  But there was a massive, beautiful amazing thing that caught my eye.  It was hanging on the wall right there......I had to go look.

There hung a beautiful bright pink brassiere!!  You couldn't call it a bra... bra is reserved for cute little scraps that the skinny girls wear.  This thing on the wall was like a fancy horse blanket.  And that, my friends, full disclosure here, is appealing to fat broads that sport ugly fat hanging over any clothing border on your body.  It even happens at the top of your socks.  Overhang is a real thing people, and us larger ladies battle it constantly.  And there was no question that this brassiere was made to contain the overhang!!!   Normally it would be in the 80 dollar range, but, I think because it was so massive and indelicate it was unappealing and had become the fullest rack in the nethers department, no one was attracted to it, except me.  Thus....wait for it....29 bucks!!!!  And it had my massive necessary size.  I snatched that thing down and bought it instantly!!!!  Happy happy. 

Fairway provided us with all Asian condiments we needed and can't get in our teeny town.  I don't think I have ever seen an Asian here.  

By now we were hungry.  We went into a Whitespot and did the usual waiting and waiting and waiting.  OMG!!!  Half an hour before we ordered, half an hour before the food got to our table and twenty minutes after we were finished eating waiting for our check.  Seriously!!!!  But....I had the best hamburger I have ever eaten.  Monty Mushroom.  Unbelievably delicious!!!  But we are renaming the place to Waitspot.  In the past we have actually walked out of one because they took sooooooo long.

And then Costco.  Busy busy busy Costco.  So much fun.  I had a list so it was pretty easy and for once we didn't eat our usual.  The tables were full as I figured they would be and I won't eat standing up.  That was kind of why we went to Waitspot first.

On the way home we went to Coombs.  Oh jeez!!!  It truly is the most tempting market one can go into.  So we bought stuff...other than the horseradish all very unnecessary stuff believe me!!!  I am too ashamed to list it here.

We got home exhausted and happy.  Later we heard thumping outside and sure enough.  A big mentally damaged bear, the only one left in town was out there throwing our garbage wheely bin around again.  I was going to go out and kick his butt but he took off, defeated.

A perfect end to a perfect day.  TTYL

'There needs to be disposable, flammable bras.  Like everyday you get home and rip it off, and then set it on fire.  And cry FREEEEEEEEEEEDOM!!!!!'  I couldn't find the author to that quote.

'That thing where you covertly put your hands in your bra and scoop your titties up in public.'  Emily McCombs.       (tmi?)

THERE SHE IS IN ALL HER GLORY!!! THE BRASSERIE.

BIG ENOUGH TO WARRANT A NAME.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU CAN'T BE PART OF THE SOLUTION

 There is a person we know. This person super protects themself from all news or sad stories.  As such all of us that are aware of this do try very very hard to keep the conversation banal and free of salty language.

But we that are aware of this have had conversation about how appropriate that is, or conversely, when is sticking your head in the sand cowardly, no matter what your past is.  Some of us think that due to this person's past, it is forgivable.  Others of us think it's pretty self indulgent. (shovel list)  Life deals some pretty tough stuff at times.  And frankly, if there is any way the collective population is aware, there will be a much better chance of a solution.

And the other consideration is how much conversation in a group is detoured due to one person's likes and/or dislikes.  I am not talking about unnecessary bawdy convo.  I am speaking of current affairs, happenings, new events, politics etc...It can get pretty stilted and sticky tiptoeing around what suits one person's needs over the general group interests.

It reminds me of visiting a now long dead grandmother.  She was little and tiny and ruled with an iron fist. (literally sometimes).

A group of us decided to make an impromptu visit one day.  Off we went.  It was about two hours away.  On the way over we all laughed, told jokes, conversed and generally had a hoot all the way there.  We were a mixture of family and friends packed into a big old car.

But....the minute we got there, there was a distinct and amazing (and to me alarming) change of convo and behaviour, even tone of voice.  Now I understand one must mind their manners etc when in the presence of older rellies but this particular time it was extreme.  All of a sudden certain members of the group became simpering and sweet and anything but genuine.  Honestly!!!!  It was nauseating!!!!  That had better not happen around me!  I will make sure I drop the f-bomb right away and set the tone and pace of the visit.

Anyway, my point with all that is I really dislike false fronts.  Yes of course sometimes stories are difficult given your past.  But we all go through that now and then.  It's a choice to be delicate.  But you will never see the real person in front of you and you will never be part of a solution to the subject at hand.  If you are okay with that...then have at it.

On another note it's been a busy time prepping for xmas, getting the van to Vancouver for Aryn and Bradley to use for the next few months, taking care of longer term issues, like the insurance to deal with the mould and dampness in Monte's bedroom, all the cardboard boxes on the deck, mounds of laundry etc....  But when everything is done I get nervous.  And restless.  I like having a todo list on the fridge!  It grounds me.

Ten days to xmas!!! I must turn my attention to our menu we have planned.  A chilli charcuterie board for xmas eve and pick dinner, as Bill and I used to call it for xmas day.  As I said before I am NOT making a big xmas dinner this year.  I just did one for thanksgiving and due to circumstances ended up doing all the clean up.  Unless I am guaranteed help with the clean up right to the finish I won't be cooking a big one again.

On Boxing Day we head to Vancouver with both vehicles on the 7:30 am ferry.  We finally found out when the kids need the van so we could plan our trip over.  By this morning when I found out for sure, the whole day was full, except super early ferries.  Fortunately both Monte and I are perfectly okay with early risings.  I wake up every night at 3 and basically am awake from that point on.  

I should be super excited to see my kids that I don't see very often, and I certainly am, but I am extra excited to see Leeloo!  I am afraid she is going to forget me.  At least there isn't another gramma in the picture to compete with!!!!  I am going to try to talk the kids into letting me have her til middle of January when I plan to go back for a longer visit.  I have a feeling the answer will be no!

Well I have to bounce.  I am still sitting in my bed and it is 11:04 am.  Monte, bless him, went to McD's and brought me their burrito breakfast...my fave but not my pancreas's favourite.  I am now spelling it pancre ass.  I hate my pancre ass. (shovel list) Have a great day and feel the excitement of xmas the most you can.  It comes only once a year!!!!  TTYL

'Confrontation leads to action.  Avoidance leads to inaction.'  Colleen Hoover,  All Your Perfects

CHILLI CHARCUTERIE FOR XMAS EVE

ONE IDEA FOR THE PICK DINNER ON XMAS

PICK DINNER

I PUT THIS HERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A APPY I PLAN TO MAKE FOR THE PICK DINNER

DEFINITELY GOING TO BE ON THE PICK DINNER TABLE!!!!

GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER

That would be Stan and Antonia!  They come to town to visit three people.  Their accountant and dear friend and his wife.  Antonia's brother and family live in town.  And me and Monte and Ange!  Port Alberni is becoming a popular place to live!!!

So the big cleanup is happening.  I haven't had the housekeeper in for over a month now.  I don't have even one inch to put the vacuum away upstairs so I just don't use it.  I bought a carpet sweeper that is truly amazing!!!  The furniture is dusty but she doesn't dust anyway so that's not new.  But she is coming this next Monday.  In the meantime I am getting the place ready.

Monte has been using the guest room.  He dragged his twin mattress in from the van and its on the floor in the laundry room.  He still can't sleep in his wet mouldy bedroom.  So sheets washed, clean towels out and Ange bless her, is coming up at two to help me make that bed.  It is an atrocity to make and so hard on the back.  It is so much easier with two people doing it.

Antonia is bringing a shepherd's pie!!  Yum!!  I will be making a salad and yesterday I made Irish soda bread.  And right now I am in the process of prepping the base for banoffee!!  Yesterday I boiled the sweet condensed milk in cans in water for three hours...yummy caramel.  I cheated and bought two graham wafer pie crusts in the tin foil pie plates.  I didn't want any leftover makings which would happen if I did make them.  Monte bought me a massive batch of ripe bananas and I have whipping cream and instant espresso at the ready!  I look forward to visiting with them!

But now I am running around in short short pj shorts and a filthy shirt.  Best go dude up a bit.  I will check back here later after dinner and they have gone to bed!  I will try to remember to take some pics.

It is the next day.  Early early..still dark as ditch water outside.  Dinner was lovely.  Her shepherd's pie was delicious!  The banoffee was rich as hell.  But delicious.

The kitchen and table are a massive mess.  Sigh.  Caroline is coming to clean at 12:30 so I had best get at the cleaning.  I like to have the house completely picked up for when she comes.

Stan and Antonia are leaving to go meet her brother and wife for breakfast at a local joint.  They are meeting them at ten so that will give me a wee bit of time to visit with them.  Monte will be moving upstairs again.  He was up super early this morning.  I ran into him on my way to the loo at about five thirty.  He was on his way out to his fave restaurant to get a breakfast.  He gave me a big hug!!  That never happens!!!  His autism, Aspergers makes him not like being touched so that hug was pretty special.  Gotta bounce!  I hear some astirring in the bedroom!

Another lovely visit and they are on their way.  I have the kitchen and dining room all clean and ready for the housekeeper.  Time to do my emails!  Have a wonderful day!!!  TTYL

this quote is exactly how we grew up and I tried to emulate that with all of my children.

'We have dinner every single night, Monday through Friday, with the children.  We sit down around 6-6:30 and it's a family dinner - it's time to check in, just to be around each other.'  Mark Consuelos

IRISH SODA BREAD

THIS BLOGSPOT IS JUST THE FRIGGING LIMIT.  STUPIDEST WEBSITE ON THE PLANET.  THAT CANDLE WAS GIVEN TO ME MANY MANY YEARS AGO BY AUNTIE JOAN, BILL'S BROTHER'S WIFE.  I STILL USE IT ALL THE TIME.  I LOVE IT!!!!