I have a dilemma. It’s the DVR. There are shows on there that Tony and I watched together, and I can’t yet watch those shows. However, there were shows only Tony recorded for himself, and would usually watch during the day when I was at work. I can’t seem to get myself to stop the recordings. It’s feels to me like it’s just one more thing that reminds me that he isn’t here anymore. It breaks my heart. But it looks like the D
DVR is going to take care of it whether I like it or not. I guess we have too many shows recorded and it’s going to start deleting the oldest ones. Whale Wars was one of Tony’s favorite programs, but that show kind of drove me nuts after watching it just once. A bunch of hippy kids floating around the sea trying to stop whale poaching. I may not have a problem deleting that one.
For some reason I wasn’t really hungry yesterday, so I ate a Kind bar and my coffee, and told myself if I was hungry later, I could eat something else, but I didn’t. And you don’t have to tell me my snowman mug is cute because, duh, I already know that.
I went to the gym. Remember the guy at the gym that I told about Tony passing away? He told the front office, and they sent me a nice condolence note. The ladies at the front desk knew about Tony being in and out of the hospital, and when I walked in the both came around the front desk and hugged me and told me how sorry they were to hear about my loss. I was SO close to just completely losing it, but I held it together. So nice. I ended up doing arms for strength and then finished with 2 miles on the treadmill.
I still hadn’t done a full grocery shop, because I still have food in the house. One of the last things Tony was able to eat and enjoy, even if he couldn’t eat it all, was Ramen soup bowls. My Walmart sells these for only .29 cents so I think I probably bought Tony a dozen of them! Not the healthiest thing in the world, but I had to run to Mariano’s after my workout to buy creamer for the office. I am still trying to figure out my Christmas meal plan, and after seeing beef rib roast recipes, especially this one, I thought I’d check it out. Um, no. I’ve never seen a piece of meat that expensive before in my life. And the sell by date was yesterday. So I would have to freeze it, then thaw it for Christmas? I decided I am going to do a sirloin tip roast, at a much more reasonable cost of $21, but do the same coffee rub on the link above.
I decided to accessorize my soup with veggies from the salad bar. That container is $1.27 worth of veggies and some extra cooked chicken.
While the noodles “cooked” in the hot water, I just chopped it all up – spinach, carrots, radishes, chick peas and chicken, then put them all together. I also added some sriracha to the broth so it was really spicy and delicious. I liked that the veggies still had some crunch to them.
I wasn’t meeting my friend Alison until 6:30 yesterday for drinks and dinner, so I ended up finishing my Christmas shopping for my sisters family. Can you believe I don’t have any plans for tonight? Well, the plan is to wrap all the presents, so I think I’ll throw on some Christmas music tonight and knock out the wrapping. And maybe I’ll have party pizza Friday!
The place we met at totally goes ALL out for all the holidays in the decorating department:
They had Shock Top on tap, which I love. I didn’t know until my friend told me that it’s a Bud product!
I had a taste for chicken wings – I ate 6 of the 8 – so spicy good!
It was so good to catch up with her. We met at a job nearly 10 years ago, but she’s been gone for 8 years, but she’s one of the ones I actually keep in touch with after we don’t work together anymore. We laughed a lot and I know she was happy to have a 2 1/2 hour dinner with drinks without being interrupted by one of her two cute girls. We were showing each other pictures on our phones, and she showed me a picture of her and her family at a wedding and as soon as I saw that picture I said “your boobs look great in that photo” and she said “um, I know, that’s why it’s our Christmas card picture this year!” Gotta love it. And she wouldn’t let me pay – so next time, it’s on me, okay?
It’s another dreary day outside – I almost don’t remember what the sun looks like! But at least we don’t have any snow, so I guess I can’t complaint too much.
I have been flooded with such generosity from all of you, that in the spirit of the season, I want to pay it forward with a holiday giveaway. I am sure like me, you’ll want to start paying more attention to what you eat and maybe throw a smoothie or two down your gullet a couple times a week. So up for grabs today is a Ninja Professional Blender! I’ve head good things about it, and that other than spending $500 + on a Vitamix, the best blender to crush ice, fruit and veggies the best.
Just leave a comment with a quick Christmas memory. No raffle copter, no facebook or twitter links, just a simple comment. I’ll pick a winner on Monday. Have a great weekend!
My favorite memories at Christmas is celebrating my mom’s birthday on Christmas Eve. Her name is Carol and she was born on Christmas Eve. My dad always made sure she had a special cake (a real birthday cake, not with Christmas decorations) and we would sing and make sure she really had a birthday. Us kids took it very seriuosly i remember. I’m so sorry to hear about your Tony. He sounds like a wonderful ( and funny 😉 husband.
This is my first time visiting your blog, first time commenting. Looking forward to reading many more posts. Merry Christmas!
I had always wanted a waterbed as a kid, although I never really had any hope that I would get one. One Christmas morning there were tons of packages under the tree and when I was opening some of them, I couldn’t figure out why they were marked for me. There was a heater, a pump, a bag of screws and bolts. It took a while but I finally figured out it was a disassembled waterbed all wrapped up in pieces. It was a big present and my parents wanted me to have more than one present to open so they wrapped up the pieces of the waterbed! What a great surprise! I slept on that waterbed for many years, even took it with me when I got my own place.
It is all about the boobs. Love it
Not sure if I’m too late to the party but….:)
Every Christmas as a child was the best. My grandparents made sure that the traditions were so delightful that I would never forget and a lot of that centers around the food. The wonderful, delicious food. My grandmother worked magic in the kitchen. I loved her cakes- the coconut and pineapple especially. They had 4 and 6 layers, completely from scratch. And licking the bowl? Ha. She would take her fingers around that batter bowl and scrape it clean!
I hope you have plenty of activities to occupy your time this Christmas. I’m still serious- if you ever get a chance to come down south, you are welcome in our home!
For a few Christmases when I was a kid my family packed up the travel trailer and drove from Massachusetts to Disneyworld. Good memories! I don’t know how many times my mom and dad heard “Are we there yet?” When I think back on it now, my parents must’ve sacrificed a lot for my three siblings and me to be able to afford those trips. My own kids are grown now and have never been to Disneyworld!
I love reading your blog Biz and am so sorry for your loss. Take care!
I grew up overseas, where few celebrated Christmas, so EVERY little thing was a family tradition and extremely special. One of my favorites was decorating cookies with my parents and brothers. My dad and I are the two artistic ones, so we would always try to outdo each other with our elaborate cookies; my brothers just tried to outdo each other in the “ugliness” category. 🙂
Thanks for the opportunity, and my condolences on your loss.
The 2 best meals of the year. Family and the best food,both a breakfast startedby Mama and
Moms humongous standing rib roast carved by Dad at the table. We will carry on the traditions. i hope there will be more laughter than tears as The primerib will be served but for the first time Daddy is not here to carve it this year. Lets make it a great Christmas because those we miss would want it that way!
Defiantly not my favorite Christmas but one that sticks with me- my boyfriend at the time was so excited to give me my gift (thinking he got me the best present in the world). Let me preface this saying I hate the cold and he loved it. When I opened the box there was a pair of ski gloves and socks and a note that said “all ready for the ski trip I booked us”. It was then and there I knew he just didn’t get me and I needed out.
One of my favorite Christmas memories is having dinner at my Grandma Sabatino’s house… on Christmas Eve… W e would have the seven fishes, and she made these little dough balls – some were plain, some had anchovies in them (these were my favorites!!!!!), and some had raisins. I don’t know what these were called… but I sure do remember them… I also remember her making smelts and linguini with clam sauce with little shrimps ontop…. Thank you.. its nice thinking about her at the holidays
My favorite Christmas memory was when we I was about 8 years old. I was at the age where I was starting to doubt whether Santa was real. We went to a Christmas party with my parents and siblings on Christmas eve and when we returned all of our presents were under the tree and our stockings were full. We were completely shocked and had no explanation as to how they got there…it was a magical night and I have never forgotten how awesome that Christmas was that year:)
My best Christmas memory was dressing in our pajamas and driving around the neighborhood at night looking at Christmas lights as a family.
We always end up doing Chinese food and movies!
My best Christmas memory was my son’s first Christmas. That was 12 years ago now. The holidays are best with kids. =)
Holy smokes….the price of that meat!? YIKES!!! So glad you have a lovely meal out! I have a ninja blender, and whoever wins this one will LOVE it! My favorite Christmas memory? Hmm….I grew up in Calgary, and it was very cold and snowy at Christmas. I used to love taking our dog for a walk and looking at all the lights on the houses and how they looked in the snow. Not long ago, I was feeling all nostalgic for cold, snowy nights at the holidays… Bet people in snowy climates think I’m nuts. 🙂 Have a great weekend Vat. Giant hug your way!!
Holy crow that meat is expensive!
John and I laugh at our memory of the Christmas when we moved from Colorado to Chicago. We had to leave our apartment by Christmas and be on our way. We had spent Christmas Eve with his family and then we were on the road on Christmas and ate Christmas dinner at Denny’s of all places. I will always remember when I had fried shrimp for Christmas dinner 😀
My youngest sister was born Christmas Day!
Thanks for doing a give away when you have had so much going on you are so sweet.
Just popping in to catch up with you, Biz. I am glad to see that you are being showered with love, goodies, friendship and kindness and I’m sending good vibrations from California.
My favorite Christmas memory is when I first moved to San Francisco to be with Mr. B. I arrived only two weeks before the big day and there was no way we were going to be able to have a traditional Christmas with all our family and friends back in New Orleans. We didn’t own a car so a few days before, we walked through the city and bought a tree, dragging it all the way back to our apartment. As we were decorating it, we heard all this shouting and when we looked out the window, we saw hundreds of women dressed as brides. They were filming a movie! So, we popped up some popcorn and watched. Later, it actually began to snow…something we hadn’t experienced in years. It was an odd, but magical Christmas that year. On Christmas day, we watched the surfers, ate Chinese food and peered into the amazing scenes of the department store windows.
Since then, we always try to include something unexpected and unique in our day.
Take care, Biz. You’re in my thoughts.
It is hard to pick out just one favorite Christmas memory, but the year my daughter was 4 (I think) she was totally into Popples toys. Anyone now her age will remember the Popples. I’d found tons of the little ones in all different colors and hid them all around – peeping out of her stocking, hiding on a shelf, etc., and she had to hunt for them all. She would give a little scream everytime she found another one! Her older brother was into He-Man and got lots of figures that Christmas, too.
Biz, when my husband died it was very sudden, and I would not let anyone move his car – it stayed right in the driveway where he’d parked it when he came home that last evening, and I didn’t care if it was in the way and everyone had to maneuver around it. It took me a couple of weeks until I could bring myself to move it, so I totally, totally understand the DVR thing. You will come to all things in your own time, Biz – don’t rush it. xoxo to you
One year my mom bought my sister and I Chippendales nightgowns and roller skates. I think we were 8 and 10. She denies it but the last time I visited I found the photo of us skating in the hall wearing these nightgowns. My mom was mortified.