Prep Genrl Weekly prep thread: April 7- April 13, 2024

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I always try to make appointments mid day, but on a rare occasion its not possible. If we have an early appointment I'm tired for two or three days before and after. Of course that's in my mind but its still real.

We always make our appointments mid afternoon. Cary didn't have a choice with this one. The office called and just gave it to him. I could have kicked him for not telling the lady that he needed an afternoon appointment, instead. Having early appointments makes me feel like I'm in a rush all day. Rush to get up, rush for both to shower and get dressed, rushed to drink our coffee, and then rush to drive the distance to the office to get there on time.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
We always make our appointments mid afternoon. Cary didn't have a choice with this one. The office called and just gave it to him. I could have kicked him for not telling the lady that he needed an afternoon appointment, instead. Having early appointments makes me feel like I'm in a rush all day. Rush to get up, rush for both to shower and get dressed, rushed to drink our coffee, and then rush to drive the distance to the office to get there on time.
Exactly. Although mid days works best for us because afternoons make us get home late, or so its seems to us. I don't go with DH when he's getting his INR checked unless he's feeling under the weather.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Takes two hours to get to the VA, in and out in 30 minutes and two hours to get home. At least I didn't have to wait. Got my rxs refilled. I'm very careful what I say to the doctor, but I'm a little more candid with the nurse. The nurse told me the doctors get a bonus for pushing vaccines. She loses on me. The doctor asked if I wanted any of the wellcare screening and I said no thank you, pushing that probably adds to their bonuses. Not going there either, I quit with them when I was 65. The only place I'd get a mamo is if I went back to where I got them for years, they actually look at the previous records. New places do not look at records from other facilities.

Back in the day I went to a family doctor and they treated everything, now the PCP people only fill prescriptions and refer you to specialty clinics. I prefer the family doctor way of doing things.
 

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
So the doc's office pulled the estrogen/fat/cancer scare tactic. That annoyed me.

And then this week, you would think I was back on the progesterone pills. Fortunately I recognize the hormone mood shift signs and rein it in. But dang. And progesterone is the hormone that counteracts the estrogen caused cancers. So I'm a little less concerned. But dang, I know it's natural, but the red head @#$%$ has been wanting out to play for a few days now. Just at the world in general, not anyone in specific. And son has been having the sillies, and wanting more hugs and tickles. That actually counterbalances a lot of it. I think some of it is spring garden fever as well.

Oh, and the edema is slowly going away. It's going to take a bit but it is going.

I found out more of why boss is changing my job responsibilities. There are piles of different tax reports, and others, that she just hates doing. I won't say I love them, but I don't start in the frame of mind of hating spreadsheets. And I know how to coax the report info out of the system, even when the system doesn't want to give it. So my easier stuff is passing on to the new person, who isn't up for more yet, and I'm getting the more difficult stuff. At least there was a raise and guaranteed minimum hours. And while I'm finding them to be a headache at the moment, I'm pretty sure they will be less of a headache when I have a good feel for what I'm doing and know the quirks.

Punting for dinner tonight. Easy stuff. I debated BBQ but I think I'm saving that for Saturday. Son decided he wasn't eating lunch which leads me to believe his stomach is acting up. So he'll be getting some mint tea with dinner.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
It’s really raining cats and dogs here with little respite from it for the next day or so.

We cross a large lake to and from the va. It was really high. It hasn’t been all that long since it was so low there were islands all over the place that you could walk on, not now. We could get some local flooding. Got a couple of place that have drip leaks that we have something under them to catch the water.
 

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
Send some of the rain here! We need every drop to break the drought.

At some point during the winter, some idiot ran over my lawn extension. Today, I finished digging out the tire track, drove some big nails into it (to make holes in the compressed soil up and down the track), filled it in, and re-seeded it with grass seed. It's going into the 80s this weekend, and I was afraid that if I didn't get the seed down today, I'd have to wait until this fall.

I think we're about two weeks ahead of normal spring planting. I'm also afraid it's going to start getting hot early, and I'll lose the lettuce.

Some of the potatoes went into today. Others will go in this weekend. The chives and onions came up early and are growing like it's already June.
 

patriotgal

Veteran Member
Learning to adjust burner on new gas range when canning. Actually had to move canner to smaller burner.

Wife of deceased client has taken over business and is a sweetheart just like her DH was. Her brother is bearing most of load right now. Nice to be working with them again. I really like the position.

DH got most of rental rehab tools put up. Seems like we had every tool we own in there.

Trying to figure how we can manage a small garden this year.
 

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Well, the TV is older than I realized. Not that I'm going to do anything about that. But I had to tolerate pink screen and flickering until I could get the screen resolution set correctly.

Interestingly enough, despite the age and low resolution, the player does seems to be upgrading the image. Tomorrow I'll explore to see if I can load the same apps that are on the Roku. I'd have no problem with using it instead of the Roku.

Son took a late nap. And then wanted to be angry at me because we were eating dinner late. I gave him a kiss on the forehead, reminded him that he was the one who decided not to eat lunch, and to go eat. Once he ate, he was in a much better mood.

Got the new clothes in. The pants seemed too long so I held them up against the pairs I bought last year. They were 4" longer. So called the company. I have a return authorization and just need to take the package to UPS. Then they will send me the correct size. I would have just hemmed them but the change in measurement was all the way along the length.

I have a Nick of Time cart waiting. 70% off has me looking at some wovens for shirts. And a knit or two. I'm also hoping that friend can find and pull my old pattern boxes. I debated the athletic fabrics. But son is very picky about his clothes and the materials, and I couldn't find the right ones.

I debated fleece and sweater materials. I may order some swatches. Those are materials that I need to touch first. I really would like to make a comfortable fall fleece jacket.

Anyways, time to crash. Night night.
 

patriotgal

Veteran Member
No rain yet here.

Finishing paint touchups on rental rehab today then a final walk through. Good cleaning and it is done. Praise the Lord!

It has been so long since I did any canning that we forgot about jars pinging when they sealed. We were trying to figure out what was making noise, lol.

Have to use smallest burner on stove on lowest setting to keep pressure from getting too high. Gonna be canning 1 round every night for awhile til I get freezer empty of meat.

Grand coming back tomorrow to help with odd stuff and do some more fishing. I just need to have a big meal and lots of sweet tea ready.
 

patriotgal

Veteran Member
All sorts of cow parts simmering in big stock pot. Old rabbit in crockpot. Dishwasher full of jars. Round of beans going in to canner.

8 packs of home butchered pork chops thawing to be canned tomorrow.

Gonna study for a CE test while everything is going.

Think I will crack open some blackberry wine this evening.
 
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SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
We made it there and back. Gosh, it rained on us all the way to Tupelo. At times, it was raining so hard that vehicles were pulling off the side of the road, because they couldn't see how to drive. Cary just slowly made his way through it.

It didn't take long at the doctor's office. The doctor came in, told Cary he did not have Paget's Disease, and that was it. We had already decided that he didn't have it but kept the appointment just to make sure. It was a one visit and done with this appointment.

A week from today, he has another appointment to see his PCP about the stroke. Basically, it's just to find out what all the testing showed. Ultimately, that will be left up to his neurologist, but that appointment is a few months away, unless it gets moved up sooner.

I'm trying to get supper planned right now in the event the upcoming storms knock out our power later this afternoon. Another skillet meal, probably, in case we have to use an alternative cooking method.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Glad you made it through crazy rain. Many of our roads do not have white lines and there are no shoulders. I avoid them during storms if at all possible.

It's flooding in our area. There were places in the road on the way to Tupelo that had water running across them. Lakes are overflowing and creeks are out of their banks. We live up on a ridge, but all the fields down below are flooded. If the 2 bridges that we have to get off this ridge flood, we're stuck, until the water goes down. The water in the creek underneath each bridge is almost at the top of the bridges.
 

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
And today just blew up. Subcontractor got herself fired with immediate access revoked and computer remotely locked down by IT.:sht:

While I've still got a desk full of random things to finish, a new difficultish client, and my own normal work. There is one possible in the pipeline to hire but that will be at least a week. So for the next few days, at least, I'm going to be a little stressed as I take back on those clients.:bwl::eye:

Ugh. Just ugh.

At least boss put a freeze on new clients temporarily. So no more dropping in the pipeline for a bit. I just need to breathe, find a rhythm, and get it done.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
The sun was out and everything is totally green, but its starting to get overcast again. May have some more rain for a little while.

Wednesday night church has been cancelled due to a power outage in that area. I wasn't planning on going anyway, so this kinda lets me off the hook.

Not really getting anything done, but I have cooked. Try as I might I just can't get back on my diet for more than a couple of days. Its eating somewhere else that gets me off track and when I get off track I can't seem to get satisfied and I just keep eating.
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
And today just blew up. Subcontractor got herself fired with immediate access revoked and computer remotely locked down by IT.:sht:

While I've still got a desk full of random things to finish, a new difficultish client, and my own normal work. There is one possible in the pipeline to hire but that will be at least a week. So for the next few days, at least, I'm going to be a little stressed as I take back on those clients.:bwl::eye:

Ugh. Just ugh.

At least boss put a freeze on new clients temporarily. So no more dropping in the pipeline for a bit. I just need to breathe, find a rhythm, and get it done.
Good grief! Can't anyone do a decent job these days?! That sounds like a bit more than she made one too many mistakes!

Just remember, you can only do what your body can handle! Don't let your boss try to push for miracles. Like you said, breathe... and take it one task at a time. I'll say a few prayers...

Summerthyme
 

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Good grief! Can't anyone do a decent job these days?! That sounds like a bit more than she made one too many mistakes!

Just remember, you can only do what your body can handle! Don't let your boss try to push for miracles. Like you said, breathe... and take it one task at a time. I'll say a few prayers...

Summerthyme
She didn't do an urgent job, that she knew was urgent and was her responsibility. Then blew off boss for two days when it was requested that she get it completed. Then told boss that boss didn't understand subcontractors and that subcontractors set their own wages, so her wages were $30/hr effective Friday. She failed to realized that as a subcontractor, the company could decide that they weren't will to pay that hourly rate and terminate her contract immediately. Contract terminated, access removed, IT reached out and locked the email and the computer.

And yes, she's made mistakes that she was supposed to be fixing. Now I get to go fix them.

She's been asking for a raise to $30/hr since week two of being on contract and was told what she needed to bring to the table to get that. She hasn't brought it to the table at all. She has also done all she can not to do what she was contracted to do. She has screwed up almost every other "extra" project that she was asked to do. And this is after boss being generous and giving her two paid days last week because the state lost power and she couldn't work.

Honestly, if I just hadn't had two other big projects tossed on my desk, I wouldn't be stressing. Doing her job is actually easy and relatively calming. But now I am unable to get any work done on those other projects today. And one is very time sensitive.
 

seraphima

Veteran Member
I've been recovering from abdominal surgery since the middle of March, but it is hard to wait out the "no digging, raking, hoeing, exercise bike, not much bending, no abdominal exercise for 6 weeks etc. etc." that the surgeon ordered- but I am feeling better now! Instead I have been planning and booking a couple of trips to see family, and i found a great Christmas present for a bunch of grandkids - Celtic design coloring books- animals, crosses, designs, of which many are discounted on Amazon. Bought a couple for myself, too. Sometimes just have to do what is possible, even if it seems out of time.
 

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I've been recovering from abdominal surgery since the middle of March, but it is hard to wait out the "no digging, raking, hoeing, exercise bike, not much bending, no abdominal exercise for 6 weeks etc. etc." that the surgeon ordered- but I am feeling better now! Instead I have been planning and booking a couple of trips to see family, and i found a great Christmas present for a bunch of grandkids - Celtic design coloring books- animals, crosses, designs, of which many are discounted on Amazon. Bought a couple for myself, too. Sometimes just have to do what is possible, even if it seems out of time.
I know how you feel. Been driving me nuts. At least I'm now allowed to walk, and play in the garden. I was going nuts.
 

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Wow! Sounds like someone had a wildly inflated opinion of their value! And so early in her employment. Ah, well... maybe she can manage asking "would you like fried with that?"... but she won't be getting $30 an hour!

Summerthyme
I pretty much just told boss that. It helped take the edge off. I said that the person was about to get a very painful life lesson.

And told her that if any one asks, "She placed a higher value on her work then boss did."

But I did play the punt it card and we went out to grab BBQ.
 

anna43

Veteran Member
I agree that Red Hill General Store in VA is THE place to go for parts for canners. I've ordered from them for ten or more years and have always been pleased with the quality and service.

Today I finally made it to town to shop, got home unloaded and put everything away and then remembered I had library books due and had to go back out. What with going up and down stairs to turn lights and fan off and on for plants and to put away all the groceries I think I did 8 or 9 trips and still need to go down to turn off the lights. Thirteen steps each trip so guess that plus shopping counts as today's exercise.

Shopping is so grueling. I went to Dollar Tree, Walmart and Aldi. Spent $122.44 on food. Much more on miscellaneous at Walmart as I was updating numerous OTC supplements plus $70 for printer ink. Weird thing happened in Walmart. We were in the OTC area and this old guy kept walking by us (shopping pal with me) repeatedly. When we moved to housewares there he was again. Again, in electronics and then office supplies. I commented to friend that it appears he's following us and guess he heard because we didn't seem him again. Just a very weird feeling about that. BTW I was able to get most of the items on my list. I think about 3 non-food and 2 food items were not to be found. Still better than in the recent past.

I spent a total of $122.44 for groceries which is under what I expected since I hadn't shopped for about 6 weeks. I've been way under budget for the year so far, so had catching up to do. Only meat I bought was one package of boiled ham for lunch sandwiches. I did buy 2 pounds of ground beef after my doctor's appointment last week.

We've had a few decent showers the last couple of weeks but several days of high winds has dried everything back out.

My daffodils are blooming, and it looks like a few tulips may bloom unless the rabbits decide to finish them off. I have had a Mother's Day peony for many years that came originally from my great-great grandmother. Last year I had a friend dig it up and gave her most of it. Two pieces were replanted in front of the house and I'm so pleased both are up.

My neighbor, who I do not know well, sister was killed by a hit and run driver yesterday. I'm praying whoever hit her is brought to justice. How could a person hit another and drive on leaving them dead or dying in a ditch? Unbelievable.

Tomorrow, if I can move after today, I need to re-pot a few more of my baby plants and add soil to the ones I did last week. Everything is looking good. I have a few extra plants that I promised to a guy at the senior center across the street so should get those to him soon.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
It's still pouring rain this morning. Everything is flooded around us. I'm glad we don't have to go anywhere, today. I don't know if the bridges are flooded or not. Could be, though. The water was really high under them, yesterday. I haven't seen or heard any traffic on our road, since I got up this morning.

No plans for today, other than trying not to get too bored. Can't do anything outside, and nothing but one load of laundry to do. It's washing, now. Pork chops for supper, but I don't know, yet, how I'm going to fix them, or what to go with them.
 

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
Grilled pork chops with apple sauce on them are both easy and yummy!

Not raining here but overcast and 56 degrees. I've got to go water the grass seed in a few minutes and do some quick errands before various Zoom meetings. Fortunately, I can do that at home. I'll put on a nice blouse later, but I can leave on my holey shorts since they won't appear on camera.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Grilled pork chops with apple sauce on them are both easy and yummy!

Not raining here but overcast and 56 degrees. I've got to go water the grass seed in a few minutes and do some quick errands before various Zoom meetings. Fortunately, I can do that at home. I'll put on a nice blouse later, but I can leave on my holey shorts since they won't appear on camera.

No grilling these chops here, today. Even though, part of our deck is covered, the grill is all wet from rain blowing in on it. If the wind is blowing, we don't stay dry underneath too well. We're under a wind advisory, today, and a flood warning.

I've got the chops marinating with a brown sugar and bourbon spice rub in the fridge. I'll bake them, tonight. I'm thinking potato salad and sweet peas to go with them, plus some store bought buttered hard rolls.

Other than reading around off and on here on the forum, I'll probably watch soccer games on tv with Cary this afternoon. Laundry is finished.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I've been looking over my next grocery list. In order to have my pantry fully restocked again I added more flats (12 cans each) of tomato sauce, French onion soup, cream of chicken soup, and cream of cheddar soup. 2 flats each. I also need more cornmeal and butter for the freezer. Anything else that is getting low, I can buy on a regular basis every time I shop. A little here, and a little there as I go. I'm trying to just cover my basics right now.

It's still raining! Just trying to stay busy.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
I haven't had a pork chop in I don't remember how long, I think DH doesn't like them. My friend Morgan reminded me about a meat market in one of the walmart towns I'm 30 miles from. I might go over there and check out their meat. Back when I raised my family I use to cook them regularly.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I haven't had a pork chop in I don't remember how long, I think DH doesn't like them. My friend Morgan reminded me about a meat market in one of the walmart towns I'm 30 miles from. I might go over there and check out their meat. Back when I raised my family I use to cook them regularly.

My favorite meats are pork chops and chicken. Both are plentiful in our area and cheap. Cary is the one who would eat beef all the time. I go to a little individually owned meat market in a small nearby town. Great meat, cheap, and all natural without any preservatives or fillers. He has a large customer base, so he can keep prices low. I go there once a month to top off the meat freezer.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
I'll give this meat market near me a shot, at least it will be better than walmart meat, which I consider awful. Although I don't really buy meat very often.

I want to start drinking green tea again, I have green tea bags, but Vitacost has a 100 count Uncle Lee's organic green tea at a very good price, so I ordered two boxes. They also have a better price on the Great Lakes Collegen that I use. Although their price on Jarrow Curcumain 95 is even higher than amazon. I've been using the Jarrow brand for many years but would like to find a brand as good but cheaper. ST if you are reading this, do you have a suggestion? I also use the Vitacost brand of magnesium, although they have gone up they are still a decent price. All Magnesium is not created equal.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I'll give this meat market near me a shot, at least it will be better than walmart meat, which I consider awful. Although I don't really buy meat very often.

I want to start drinking green tea again, I have green tea bags, but Vitacost has a 100 count Uncle Lee's organic green tea at a very good price, so I ordered two boxes. They also have a better price on the Great Lakes Collegen that I use. Although their price on Jarrow Curcumain 95 is even higher than amazon. I've been using the Jarrow brand for many years but would like to find a brand as good but cheaper. ST if you are reading this, do you have a suggestion? I also use the Vitacost brand of magnesium, although they have gone up they are still a decent price. All Magnesium is not created equal.

I haven't bought any meat from Walmart, since I found this little meat market. I still buy the smoked half hams at Sam's. I keep a few of those in the meat freezer. Use one, replace one.

I read a few days ago that green tea was good to keep down Lupus flares. I've thought about buying it again, but Cary had to go off of it when his kidneys were acting up with all the UTI's. If I buy it, he'll drink it. He loves the stuff. He use to drink two bottles a day. We don't like it hot.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
I haven't bought any meat from Walmart, since I found this little meat market. I still buy the smoked half hams at Sam's. I keep a few of those in the meat freezer. Use one, replace one.

I read a few days ago that green tea was good to keep down Lupus flares. I've thought about buying it again, but Cary had to go off of it when his kidneys were acting up with all the UTI's. If I buy it, he'll drink it. He loves the stuff. He use to drink two bottles a day. We don't like it hot.
I've always felt that Sam's meat was better than walmart by a long shot, but DH who use to deliver to both says they are the same, but I disagree with him.

I always make my green tea with tea bags, I've never bought a bottle of it.

This is what's in a bottle of green tea:

Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Sodium Hexametaphosphate to Protect Flavor , Green Tea, Ascorbic Acid Vitamin C , Potassium Sorbate Preserves Freshness , Phosphoric Acid, Sugar, Acesulfame Potassium, Calcium Disodium EDTA to Protect Flavor , Honey, plus its 100 calories.

There is nothing in the green tea bags and there are no calories unless you add sweetener to it. I use stevia which has no calories.
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
their price on Jarrow Curcumain 95 is even higher than amazon. I've been using the Jarrow brand for many years but would like to find a brand as good but cheaper. ST if you are reading this, do you have a suggestion?

I bought this and we've used it for several years. I put it into capsules, but you can easily add it to food or drink. It works very well.

The 500 gram pack is equivalent to 1000 of the Jarrow capsules, for 10 bucks more than their bottle of 120...

Summerthyme
 

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Ugh. Today has just been ugh. I am washing my hands of work and putting it down for now. If I don't, I'm likely to lose my temper at people who don't deserve it.

On the other hand, my plants arrived. Ramps, ostrich ferns, two types of native ginger, and two wild yams.

And I remembered Mothers Day in time to make sure that deliveries would get to Mom and SIL tomorrow.
 
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