always grateful
ever thankful
I try to feel gratitude, and even express gratitude every day. during my vacation, a small corner of the world went crazy, and all we could do is sit and watch hateful people do hateful things. it is still going on a month later. saying 'my thoughts and prayers are with you' is just not enough any more.
at work, our Folsom team gathered for another proximity lunch, this time at a nice Asian restaurant, to celebrate a good year and the upcoming holiday season.
more cooking adventures had me making Fried Green Tomatoes, and a Dutch Baby (pancake). we went out to our new favorite upscale comfort food restaurant for my birthday and had amazing chicken fried lobster bites, coconut curry mussels, fried chicken and jambalaya!
and for Veterans Day I cooked with the truffle team, as Chef Anna made Crispy Duck, cider glazed apples, and creamy polenta! Craig loved it all, and we will definitely be making these recipes again!
I crocheted a poppy accessory for my QEII hat; it's the traditional symbol of remembrance of veterans.
I went to see two of my Pride & Prejudice cast mates in a tremendous production of 20,000 Leagues. not only were their performances outstanding but the staging was exceptional. it was also fun to see several other P&P cast and staff in the audience, so we had a mini reunion.
I stayed overnight in the bay area again, for two critical meetings on two different days. I took the train however, since my transmission has been giving me fits, and I don't feel safe driving long distances.
our favorite Chef Tucker led another great class, this one making shepherds pie with kobe beef! so delicious.
and because I've been providing progress most of the year on the peacock morning glory trellis, here is what it looks like in mid-November!
Joyce got to go to her happy place, and she took Tim their for his first time! look at these happy faces!!
on Thanksgiving Eve I got the sad post about another long-time theatre friend Keith, who passed away suddenly after surgery. Joyce and I had known him for about 20 years, and had worked backstage, and I had performed on stage, with him on many shows. he was two years younger than me! I know we are getting to the age when we will lose our friends, but this is just heart-wrenching. he was a musical inspiration to so many kids in the bay area, and just one of the nicest people ever!
the day after thanksgiving while Craig was starting the holiday lights installation process, I used up several of our green and red tomatoes to make green tomato beef chili. after cooking most of the day, we enjoyed it with garlic'y buttered baguette slices.
after having so much trouble with my car, and not wanting to spend any more money to have a dealer troubleshoot what might be a simple issue, I rented this baby to get me around town and to the bay area until we finally isolated the problem - transmission fluid most probably. but this was a fun ride for a week while we were figuring it out! :-D funny story: the agent at the rental desk asked me hesitantly "would you want a charger" as if she thought I'd think that was the worst idea, especially as it is also - obviously - speeding ticket red!
and not so funny about my car: apparently my model - one of only six years they designed it this way - doesn't have a dipstick for the transmission fluid. did they assume people wouldn't need to check? did they forget to design it in? unbelievable. so my solution has been to add a half-quart at a time, to see if that is solving the issue, and it seems to be. when did I become a mechanic?!
