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Monday, January 07, 2008

Trying My Hand at Haiku (and Happy Birthday to Rochelle)

Football ad nauseam
Sniffling and sneezing continue
Cold rain drizzles down

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Ann, for heaven's sake, don't quit your day job. I wrote that on a friend's blog (Rude Cactus) who'd asked us to describe our weekend in Haiku form. He may already regret his request.

Ray is still sleeping, the cat is perched above my head, it's not quite 7:00 a.m. and I'm expecting my friend Dawn in about 20 minutes.

Our colds seem to be winding down. Mine was worse than Ray's but I worry more about him. For me, it's just a week of misery - his could have been more serious. Somehow I managed to do the first of the month shopping but I canceled almost everything else including, for the most part, even trying to read posts. Everything ached, including my eyes.

The storms which struck California last week did no real damage here. We had quite a bit of rain but no flooding, wind but nothing blown away, and one extremely brief power outage. Other communities, including Fresno just 60 miles south, weren't so lucky. I'm concerned about my San Francisco area friends as well as some in Southern California.

I've been cooking comfort food - my solution to everything. I made a big pot of clam chowder on Friday; by Saturday it was history. Yesterday, we had grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, and applesauce. Oh, and pancakes, eggs and tangerines for breakfast. Today, I think I'll reheat the leftover oatmeal for breakfast with English muffins and throw together a meatloaf for dinner. Probably mashed potatoes and some kind of veggie and fruit. I try to cook double batches of most things; partly to save on utilities and partly to save my own energy. Many things taste better the second day anyhow.

Rochelle turned 13 on the 5th of January. She's a teen!! Happy, happy birthday to my sweet girl. Rebecca will be 13 on Halloween and Elcie will be 15 in March. I know that just yesterday they were all babies.

Thanks to all of you for the comments and the concern. My eyes are finally focusing somewhat so perhaps I can get around to reading and commenting on some posts. I think I have something like 1500 entries on Bloglines I haven't seen. (Not all are friend's posts; some are news, etc. but it's still a little overwhelming).

Take care everyone.

17 comments:

Susie said...

Hi Ann,
Glad you're feeling better and didn't suffer too much trouble from the storm.
It hit pretty hard up here. We're all fine though, but power is still out for a few people. Loads of trees down and flooded streets, etc.
Guess we're in for more of the same this week.
Hope you feel a bit better each day.
xo

Gawdess said...

very happy to hear that you are feeling better!
unfortunately, you have gone and made me hungry, I love all the food that you described!
Take care

Anvilcloud said...

Glad you're feeling better, and I hope you have a great year with lots of good health for both you but especially Ray.

ipm said...

a belated birthday to your Rochelle! they are growing up so quickly...

and that does sound so yummy! we're going to have some sausage soup tomorrow and are finishing up cottage pie tonight.

glad the storms were just rain for you all. the same for us. I sure enjoyed it!

much love...

ancient one said...

Sometime when you have time, tell me how you put that comment under the leave your comment ... I would like to put a little message on mine.

Now for the important stuff: I'm so glad you are feeling better. Hope you and Ray have wonderful health all through the new year.

Happy Birthday (late) to Rochelle. I'm moving slower getting around to visit all my favorite bloggers, but when I get there I try to read back and catch myself up...

Luv-n-hugs!!

mreddie said...

So glad you are feeling better - the mention of clam chowder made me hungry. ec

Diane@Diane's Place said...

Hi, Ann. Glad to hear that y'all didn't suffer too much from the recent storms in CA.

We're under a tornado watch all night into the morning but right now most of the tornadoes and warnings are in the western part of the state coming slowly this way. Anytime it gets up over 70º in January it's not a good sign. It's still 63º now at 10:30 pm. Not good at all....

Hopefully you and Ray are both on the road to a rapid recovery. Your clam chowder sure does sound good. It's my favorite soup.

Have a good week. ;o)

Love and hugs,

Diane

Jo said...

Oh I am so glad you are recovering from your cold, I was wondering what had happened with you. Welcome back!

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...

Glad the storms missed you and that you are feeling some better. I haven't checked my bloglines for such a long time that they probably wrote me off as dead and deleted my list.

I'm with you with the food and I think lots of it tastes better on the second day too when all the flavors have blended together nicely.

Merle said...

Dear Ann ~~ So glad that you and Ray are nearly better and that the storms
didn't affect you. I hope that Rochelle had a lovely birthday on 5th
They are all getting to be teenagers
and they were so lucky to have such a good start in their lives from you.
You can be very proud of yourself Ann for taking them on when they needed
someone to love and care for them. Now they are old enough to take care of themselves to some extent.
Take care my friend, Much love, Merle.

Missy said...

Hey Ann! Hope all is well. Happy New Year!

Pat said...

January sure is the month for comfort food. MTL likes to eat porridge at lunch time flavoured with salt like the Scot he is. January will soon be over and we can all breathe easier again.

JunieRose2005 said...

Hi Ann,

Glad you're both feeling better and hope it continues.


Junie

Cecil said...

Ann.. thanks for stopping by.. glad you and Ray are doing better.. I had a viral infection..sinus junk for over a month and still have times where I strangle with no warning... horrible junk.. but I know Ray is still recovering... and this junk you get nowadays seems to hang on... Our storms passed with a bit of a scare but we are ok... thank you, Lord! Glad you are both on the mend... Hugs ... Cecil

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Soooo Sorry you've been Sick! I hope you will be 100% very very soon! And a VERY VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU, My Dear....Be Well, and Stay Well, too!

The Future Was Yesterday said...

Good to see you survived the flu, and it's great to see you back again!

I guess I'm going to have to look up "Haiku" and see what it is! I honestly don't know, never having been interested in poetry of any kind. But it's embarrassing to be shown up by a Granny, even if I do love her to death!:)

Re your comment at my place regarding the death of your Daughter: There are so many things that are incompatible with medicine, and getting well, but we ignore them in our rush to "feel good." My heart goes out to you!!!

Karen H. said...

Good Evening Granny,
I'm so glad you are feeling better and Ray also. "PRAISE GOD" the storms wasn't bad where you were. I have been offline for a couple of days and am trying to catch up with everyone this evening. I hope to be able to do a post in the morning tho. It didn't get bad here where I live at yesterday. It was close by us tho. Another "PRAISE GOD" for watching over us and protecting us. "HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY" to Rochelle. They sure grow up fast don't they? Our oldest one will be 12 in April. Our youngest will be 10 in August. Where does the time go to? I do love leftover's. They do taste better the second or third time around. LOL. When I cook a big meal, we eat on it till there's hardly anything left. I can't afford to be cooking something new everyday anyway. Take care my friend and have a great evening. May God Bless You and Yours.

Love & Hugs,
Karen H.