a p r I l . 2 0 2 5

April showers and cold!

m a r c h . 2 0 2 5

celebrating one year

winning the Warrior Wreath

     I got my diagnosis and had my surgery last year in March.  it's only appropriate that I won having the pink wreath for my front door for the month of March!  so for me, both March and October will be BC awareness months. 

     my theater friend Barbara was in our "neighborhood" visiting with her sister, so asked if I wanted to meet up before she headed back home.  the three of us had such a great time!  of course I showed off the pictures of the grand baby!  on the way home I stopped at the local Harley shop and got some biker duds for the little dude!

     last month at work, I put my name into the pot to win the chance to watch a band we've known "forever" since the 70s ... Heart was going to be performing at our downtown arena.  and I won!  I told Craig it was his birthday present.  we had a nice dinner downtown at Foundations across the street, then went to our seats in the suite with my company's name on the door!  Ann had recently fractured her elbow, and instead of postponing concerts, she decided to sing from a wheelchair with her arm safely propped on a pillow.  she's a warrior - a survivor warrior! - and she wanted to sing for all of us!  She and Nancy still have the most beautiful harmonies!  we were so lucky to be able to win these tickets for their show.

     another one of our talented attorneys couldn't resist an awesome offer, so I needed to go to his going away lunch at work.  after all, I had been instrumental in his on-boarding, so I was like his work mom!  I took the train down and back.  and even though I only worked five or six hours, the six-hour commute and one hour of driving to/from the train took a LOT out of me.  

     I shipped all the baby goodies that both Barbara and Susan had given me since my Christmas trip, as well as the Harley haul; the box was 12x12x12, stuffed full!  now to finish crocheting his first present from Nana Ana, or Nan'Ana, or whatever he calls me <3 

     I had a follow-up visit with my laser eye surgeon because my eye just "feels funny" and tires easily.  she said everything looks great, this is just my new normal. <<sigh!>>  even more not normal, they only dilated one eye, so driving home before it had worn off was really weird.  good thing I did because after four-plus hours it was still dilated!  I had to get back to work after the appointment - - which I did with one eye closed for most of it. 

     at the most recent band practice, one of the sax players asked if any of us want to come to his band's fund raiser spaghetti dinner in our home town.  since I'm all for supporting a local community band, I bought us two tickets.  what was really fun, is that sax player is the assistant band director of that other band - yes he conducts one band and plays in another - and he was trying to "poach" me or at least coax me to also join his band!  they practice Monday nights, so he thinks this old lady should be able to do it.  I told him when I wasn't working a 40-hour week I'd think about it.  he assumed I was retired like so many of the oldies in this band.  but I was flattered that he wanted me in his band!  we attended the dinner, which was like so many fund raiser dinners.  what was cool though was that all the band players were also the wait staff and kitchen workers!  that's right, the band cooked and served us!  after we had eaten, the band played several songs, and they were really good.  I would definitely be upping my game if I also joined them too.  because I won't ditch Ron's band for Peter's.  Craig and I were early enough that we were first to sit at our table.  Ron came along much later, and opted to sit next to me instead of anywhere else at the table, and we have a lovely ongoing conversation throughout dinner, until it was time to go.  I was really lucky Judy recommended his band. 

     at work, I helped to organize events over two days at headquarters, so needed to be down in the bay area for all of them.  instead of getting up early Monday, I paid an extra night for the hotel (on my dime) and drove down Sunday afternoon - a leisurely drive with minimal traffic - and had dinner at a restaurant recommended years ago by our Ethiopian logistics worker who was with us for a summer.  I had an amazing meal of roast goat, grilled veggies, savory rice and delicious flat bread.  I checked in at the hotel and conked out.

     the next day I ran around getting things organized, test-running the conference room which wasn't as technologically advanced as many other rooms.  since it's the largest, you would think it would be, but ... <sigh>  for lunch (st. patrick's day) I got the vegan bangers and mash option, and it was really good!  in the elevator on my way back to my desk with my tray of food one of our most senior execs was pleasant and conversational with me, and commented on the smell of my meal.  since she's originally from Ireland, that was high praise indeed.  I found out later she is retiring soon!  I was lucky to see her live in person one more time.  our dinner at a local Greek restaurant was a lot of fun, even though we were going to be seated on the patio and they moved us inside last minute due to rain forecasts.  

     the second day of meetings went off with only one small glitch, which of course was related to the age of the in-room technology.  our Chinese team members brought "souvenirs" or small inexpensive items for each team member.  they asked me to make numbers for choosing from a box, so of course I went all out and used a Year of the Snake image with numbers written in gold ink, and used a tin box from Hong Kong to choose the numbers from.  after my part of the meetings were done, we went off to Top Golf for lunch and an afternoon of competitive club swinging.  I was a cheerleader, as swinging clubs isn't in my range of motion yet!  all in all it was a great two days of meetings and proximity, food and fun in the fresh air.  I had dinner that night with Janet at her favorite Italian place, and we ended up enjoying over three hours together!  I gave her the bottle of wine I got her in SoDak, and the chef coat that I had made for her.  she tried it on when she got home and said it fit perfectly!  of course I stayed over one more night, got a few more site related tasks completed, then hit the road for home at mid-day to beat the traffic.  it was a three hour drive with only minimal usual slowdowns.  

     I saw the cutest sushi set on a social media marketplace and because it was birds of paradise, I knew I had to get it for Janet.  this led me down the highway to a cute second hand store - which could be very dangerous if it were closer!  I picked up a few more "must haves" while there including another onesie for the little dude!  I finished crocheting the present I made for him, and got that out the door in a giant shipping box.  it cost a "small fortune" but he's worth it.  He is a buffalo, or Tatanka in Lakota, and his name is Tanka which means Big.  I found a crochet pattern for a cow stacking ring toy and modified it to be this rough and tumble toy with "tattoos" on his back / behind. 

  

     Joyce loved it! 

     we still have quite a crop of carrots, so I pulled them all up, cleaned them somewhat, and then Craig scrubbed the rest of the dirt off them.  I wanted to pickle some of them since that was a suggestion for use on salads, tacos and sandwiches!  

     Barbara recommended a book club book, and a companion live webinar with the author.  I was able to listen to the whole audiobook (part of my "1960's collection") before the webinar, and found this author quite captivating!  I may need to read more of her books.  the one I read/heard was "The Women."  

     on the last weekend of the month I attended an afternoon production of an event called Edgar Allen Poe Speakeasy.  we were encouraged to dress up in funereal finery, so I pulled some things old and added a couple new pieces, and made my way to "the party!"  the event was the reading of four of Poe's more famous works, accompanied by themed beverages, cocktails and mocktails.  I had three mock and one cocktail.  I don't know how the people who had all four managed, since we were only there for about 90 minutes!  it was a fun and unique "experience" to attend!  and I wasn't even the "most dressed up" in the crowd! 

f e b r u a r y . 2 0 2 5

Black History Month 

now more than ever. 

     continued with the reading / audiobook list of great black lives.  it seems apropos for the month ... and the times.  <<sigh!>>

 

     took on the long-term project of making sourdough starter - first time since Joyce was a baby.  the first loaves I made using half rye flour, so they were a little sour and a little rye ... and completely delicious.  I made a sort of tapenade out of fridge products - stuffed olives, sundried tomatoes, banana pepper slices, Pommery mustard, mayo.  it tasted awesome on thin slices of my rye!

     band practice continued, but we missed one practice because we were having torrential rain, and our director didn't want any of us driving / getting stranded in it!  apparently this location has flooding issues regularly.  

     reached out to some of my Portland family members for help on an audiobook project.  before my mom's mom passed away, my aunt had spent her last few years transcribing her life as grandma reminisced.  we all have a copy of the written memoir, but I want to do an updated version and make it an audiobook!  that will be something I can pass down to Joyce's baby!  

     once again a Disneyland Rose plant became available on the market so I snapped it up.  I planted it one weekend when Craig was golfing.  of course, the following week the weather turned and we had an overnight freeze, but it seems to have fared well enough through it.  

     we watched the super bowl this year in hopes to see the dashing of a three-peat run.  we didn't feel that the team was worthy of the title.  luckily, they didn't, and were soundly thrashed by the NFC team.  the halftime show was definitely thrilling to watch, as it had a tremendous message to send to those currently in power.  F3L0n47 was there but apparently the cameras didn't focus on him so that was a gift.  he was also in attendance at the Daytona 500 - who is running the country?! - but since it was rain delayed he probably bailed and went back to his country club to sulk. 

     sadly the rain delay affected my schedule for the day.  I was going to watch the race in the morning and then make a Shuffle dinner of Chicken Tinga Tacos with another online class.  the race ended during the class, so I missed the finish.  I had done prep for the class starting Saturday morning, so the flurry of activity for the one hour cooking session was only the actual cooking part, not the other necessary activities that I wouldn't have had time for!   since I wanted to also make a Cilantro Lime Crema drizzle, I also went deluxe on the topping where they recommended just shredded lettuce.  Instead I made a slaw of chopped arugula, radish and scallions.   both of these I made the day ahead, so they were ready when the chicken was done.  I did break down and buy store-bought pico de gallo, cilantro rice and refried black beans, but they were the lesser ingredients of the meal.  everything was delicious!! 

     I finished my jar of store brand marmalade, and decided to get ambitious and make my own.  Craig got a bag of mandarin oranges, which I then zested and chopped and cooked, then added some spices to make a delicious fall-scented delicacy fit for a Tea with the Queen!

     Joyce called to let me know that her doctor recommended a change in her due date.  because of her age and the stroke she had in 2020, she pulled in the due date by two weeks, and planned to induce, to keep more control over the delivery.  we now expect Finn will join us at the end of this month!  time to really get down to finishing the toy I'm crocheting for him :-)  

     they started to induce Thursday morning, but by the end of the day progress had halted so they wheeled her in for a C-Section.  he made his appearance at 12:01 Friday morning!  he's beautiful!   he's perfect!  Mom was doing as well as can be expected.  Tim is so proud!  I stayed up until 2:00 a.m. our time just so I knew that everything would turn out well and see the first pictures.  too bad I had to be online for work at 7:00 a.m.  oh well, I would just run on "new grandma adrenaline" for the rest of the day.  because that evening ...

     several of the surrounding county chapters of the BC support group gathered at a restaurant in Roseville and welcomed a guest, an influencer and survivor herself, the energetic Fitz of Fitzness fame.  she was such a delight - she hugged me ... twice!  and, when they were passing the pink "fight" wreath around, I ended up being the next person in line to get the honor for the month!  how appropriate since it was just under a year ago when I had my diagnosis and this journey began.  

j a n u a r y . 2 0 2 5

looking forward to a better year ahead

     for the first time in five years, since before the pandemic, I found an opportunity to play my French Horn in a community band again!  a former member of the Campbell band where Janet still plays and I played for many years now lives in this area, and she pointed me to a very casual and friendly group who meet on Tuesdays and play two seasons per year, just like at Campbell.

practice room for the Capitol City Concert Band

 

     this year's inauguration day was supremely disappointing.  luckily, it also fell on Martin Luther King's birthday holiday, so I didn't have to work.  I chose instead to listen to several hours of YouTube videos that were the good Doctor's speeches and sermons from the 50s and 60s!  so much more inspirational than the current news of the day.  sadly, the words from 60 years ago could have easily been spoken today for all their relevance.  these many speeches and sermons prompted me to check out several more books, enough to spend the remainder of this month and all the way through Black History Month February reading and listening to stories about so many great lives.      

     toward the end of the month I worked up the energy to join the sisters of our Sacramento area breast cancer support group at a lunch; it was up in Rocklin, which I thought was close, but apparently it stretches on for miles and this restaurant was at the farthest edge!  it was so much fun meeting with these ladies who have gained a greater zest for life considering all they've gone through.  a few like to wallow in their pity party, but luckily there are survivors who try to redirect that nega-energy into more positive talk.  I opted to have a delicious brunch of Avocado Toast with eggs and bacon, plus a mocktail of OJ and ginger ale. 

     if I were going to start a resolution, it would be that I will get onto the exer-cycle in the garage.  I can spend 15 minutes on it and ride 3 miles.  I definitely need to build up my leg strength as well as lose some weight.  may this be the year! 

     last month's Greek meatballs were such a hit that Craig ground up some lamb and I made the same lamb meatballs again.  we don't need a class to enjoy chef-worthy eats!!