Martini Musings

- December 15, 2019

Random Thoughts…

It’s Sunday night, snow is falling and I am late getting this post written! Tonight, a different type of post…lots of things on my mind so I’m going to present to you Random Thoughts!!

I just spent a long weekend with my parents. It was an opportunity for me to help out my brother, who is a big part of their care. Joey was away for the weekend and we all prefer that someone is close by for Mom and Dad. I made the plan to stay with them. It was a good weekend!

Health Update! Mom is doing much better than a month ago. She is getting occupational and physical therapy at home and her pain level has become manageable. Something that she always says as we try to help her, “if you don’t use it, you lose it!” I think after she took her tumble last month, she was certain that her pain would continue and she would have to learn to manage it. Well…therapy works!! It has helped her mental attitude too! She still tires out easily, but she is enjoying getting out a little bit!

NO TV!! While I was there, the TV went out. Now you have to know that my parents enjoy their TV…it really is a source of entertainment for them. Sports, news, and their favorites…Law & Order, Everybody Loves Raymond, Blue Bloods, Let’s Make a Deal, and others…NOT AVAILABLE as of Saturday morning. Now, for many, this would not be a big deal, but when you don’t get out much, the TV connects you. In the middle of the UL Game, the TV went out. After a lengthy call with Direct TV, it was determined that a service call was needed. They will be out on Monday, at 4pm. WTH??? So, Mom and Dad are listening to Christmas music around the clock. Mom is reading, Dad is working on his journal and cards, and I think they will survive! I was able to pull up the news on my iPad last night, so Dad could watch. Then I pulled up Andy Griffith for my Mom to watch. No TV is an interesting concept. We should all do it once in a while!

COOKING FOR MORE THAN ONE! Because I had a super busy week last week, I didn’t get a chance to prepare any food for my folks. On Friday morning in Louisville, I went to Kroger and picked up items to make chili, stuffed peppers, potato soup, and pot roast. Upon my return, I started my cooking marathon. Since my divorce, I don’t do much cooking. It’s too much work for one person and I don’t have the space to cook and freeze a lot so it just doesn’t happen. I enjoy it when I have time and Friday, I had time. I thoroughly enjoyed prepping a week’s worth of meals for them and I hope they will enjoy the food without the effort this week.

FRYING BACON! My Mom loves bacon. They purchase it in huge quantities from GFS. They don’t fry it on Sunday mornings, they fry three or more pounds of it at one time. It’s the cooking mess from hell. So…when I saw the thawed bacon in the refrigerator, I asked if I could cook it for them. So I did! Fry, drain, fry some more. Then I packed it up in the Glad containers for easy access. Now, when Mom wants a BLT or a biscuit sandwich, she just pops it in the microwave for 15 seconds, and she’s got her bacon! But ohhhhhhhh, the greasy mess!

FANATICALLY FRUGAL!! Now, I think we all know people who remind us of living through the depression and wasting nothing. My parents don’t understand throwing away food (old leftovers!) or even sometimes, expired food. They don’t understand boneless, skinless chicken breasts. There are things in the refrigerator that they don’t really like, but they can’t bring themselves to throw away. I helped with that while I was there. If you aren’t going to eat it, you don’t need to waste space in the frig…buh bye old lasagna and tator tots!! They are huge on coupons and entering checks into the register immediately. There is definitely something to be said about that lifestyle, and I admit, we can appear frivolous. However, this weekend, I found a new extreme of this lifestyle. (picture below) This morning I found the strawberry jelly jar turned upside down on the counter. Then, about 30 minutes later, I saw the lid, with the jelly that had been remaining in the jar. Way to save the last of the jelly!! Now don’t quote me, but I have a feeling that when I return for Christmas, there will be a jelly lid, on one of the shelves in the refrigerator, with slightly fermented jelly!!

SHOPPING IS FUN! Mom and I went to Steinmart on Friday and although she only lasted an hour or so, she was happy to be out and about and we marked some things off of Christmas shopping list. Saturday, Mom and Dad along with Lori and me went to Lowes to pick out a new vanity. Again, they don't last as long as they used to, but it was fun and they were enjoying being out and about.

SOME CHRISTMAS OBSERVATIONS! Elf on the Shelf can behave! They make liquid soap that plays music when you pump it!

LIFE IS GOOD! Mom and Dad are ALWAYS there for us and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have a long weekend with them! These random thoughts are the memories that will stay in my heart! These random thoughts are the things that we will laugh about some day!

As we wind down towards Christmas, I am reminded once again, that I am blessed…and I’m not alone!! Have a great week!!