Groundhog's Day...SNOW...and Hibernation

 

Dragged again from his warm burrow, Phil retaliated by forecasting 6 more weeks of winter.

...not to be out-done...I also saw MY shadow...and predict 6 additional weeks of dieting...

It is cold here, this morning.

Like 6 degrees.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

Huddled around the heat with hot chocolate, and listening to the whirrrr of snow blowers and the scrape of snow plows.

This would be why.

On Wednesday evening it started to rain...quickly changing to ice...then it snowed...and snowed...and snowed.

All day and night on Thursday.

We got a LOT of snow.

Everything was just CLOSED for a couple days.

"I'm STILL closed, Mom!"

                                  Sofi

"Yep...just snuggling into the drawer for a nap!"

                                                                          Gadget

Hibernation, fresh baked bread, warm creamy potato soup and thick quilts seem like the best option.

Did manage to see the most recent Ice Age film.

 It was "meh" 

To be honest...they have pretty much done Ice Age to death.

The really little ones (think 3-5) might enjoy this...but 6 and up are just going to be as underwhelmed as I was.

Hoping for a few good films this year...but this isn't one of them.

Do yourself a favor. 

Pass.

Starting virtual Hong Kong on Monday!!

Till then...stay warm...

Virtual China: Chinese New Year- Year of Tiger

 

恭喜发财 / “gong-sshee faa-tseye”

                                       Happy Lunar New Year!

And what a better way to start the Year of the Tiger than wearing traditional red...and enjoying sticky rice...dumplings...egg rolls... mandarin oranges and a cherry topped pastry.

(firecrackers optional)

 The celebration in China.

https://youtu.be/Rv4s-UzGjFc

The Chinese Zodiac (and calculator)

https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/social_customs/zodiac/ 

See which sign you were born under.

The PRC (People's Republic of China) now calls this Spring Festival and preparations begin a couple of weeks ahead...and will last for 15 days!

Everyone gets the 15 days of Spring Festival off school and work.

It is basically a feed your face...see family and friends...extravaganza. A 15 day party.

This year the end will be on February 15th...and is also The Festival of Lanterns.

On the first day of Chinese New Year there are certain things that are never done.

Housecleaning

Washing or cutting your hair.

Cooking or use of fire....food is prepared the night before.

These are to keep LUCK in your home for the next year.

...it's complicated...

We will start with the three areas of China which are not considered Provinces...but operate independently.

Hong Kong

Macau

Taiwan

Until then...

Red packet envelopes given with money enclosed for the New Year.

 

Cinderella Saturday...SNOW...Staying Warm and Tomorrow's Games

 

It SNEW!!!!

So beautiful outside...a winter wonderland...love the first accumulation.

...it can be SPRING now...

                                           Sofi

NPB is a hazy memory and, given last night's 6 degree temps, is a shiny white vast frozen tundra currently.

Enjoying a Cinderella Day here and fixing Greek Chicken and Potatoes later...and a deep bubble bath.

Sofi is supervising.

Set up my new phone and all that entails the past couple of day after extracting myself from ATT's Friends and Family Plan.

...which should be renamed Hotel California...because you can check out any time you like...but you can never leave...

And what happened to BURNER phones...anyway?

Burners used to be the drug-dealer/smuggler's choice...they were simple...unregistered and for all practical purposes untraceable. 

So simple a Meth-Head could set them up...and did.

Yeah...right.

My $20 burner took 2 days to set up and untangle everything that is attached to your phone number these days...it was insane.

Just loading the pay-as-you-go card took an act of god.

I was transferred several times to the outsourced help in Dubai.

Until if I heard "Miss Carla" one more time I think I would have cracked.

After you got this thing set up....you'd NEED meth.

Now I'm just contacting everyone with the number.

All's well that ends well.

               ...and remember...if all is not well...it isn't the end yet...

 Not only is Our Duck still paddling around the lake...but several of the wild mallards seem to have decided to hang out as well.

I've finally started back with PT and OT to undo some of the damage/loss from taking 2 years basically off.

...I blame Covid...

John has also started going back to PT with his "pod"

We are plotting and planning our Valentine's Escape for February!

For now...the prime directive seems to be staying warm.

The race to the Superbowl narrowed down to 

The Chiefs and The Bengals

The Rams and The 49ers

With the winning two teams going to this year's Superbowl.

I have all the fixings for amazing nachos...and John and I (and probably the cats) will be tuning in together tomorrow.

The Chiefs are Our Team this year...so hopeful!

Now back to cleaning...

Have a Great Weekend!

 

 

 

Update:  The Chiefs lost to the Bengals in OT.

sigh

Now the Rams and Niners are playing.!

Will update this when it is over...

 

The dust has cleared.

The Rams have won.

We will be looking at a Bengals/Rams Superbowl!!!

 

The Best Game Ever...Recovering from the Weekend

 

 

Amazing doesn't even seem to do it justice.

This weekend we managed to toss The Titans, The Packers, The Buccaneers..and The Bills out of this year's playoffs.

IKR???

Took a day to even fall back and regroup.

Brady left bleeding and battered.

Rodgers...outta here.

Tennessee bested by The Bengals!!!

And then there was THE GAME.

                    ...serious footballers don't even have to ask...

The Chiefs-Bills Game was hands down the BEST game I've ever watched.

Nothing that anyone comes up with this year's SB will even come close.

Well matched, these two teams stayed neck and neck all evening.

The lead changed (with 3 TDs) three times in the final 2 minutes.

With 13 seconds on the clock Mahomes made a drive within FG range and threw the entire ordeal into OT.

Kansas won the toss...Mahomes threw to Kelce by the EZ...and everyone at Arrowhead Stadium was stunned...then erupted in celebration. 

Josh Allen was amazing.

Patrick Mahomes was amazing.

We will see a lot from these two QBs in the next decade.

Best Game I have EVER seen...and I used to watch Ditka and The Bears back in the day...

And now there are 4 left.

The Chiefs

The Bengals

The Rams

The 49ers.

 

Facing off this weekend...and the two teams left will be Superbowl bound!

What an exciting season it has been so far!!!!

More Anon...

Our January Adventure...This Year's Virtual Trip...And The Playoffs

Tyreek Hill with Pom Poms may be the mildest thing I've seen on the sidelines, and, in this topsy-turvey anything goes atmosphere known as the NFL Playoffs.

Seriously.

From "...there appears to be an object on the field..."

"Hey...I'm not touching THAT without gloves!!!"

(...yes...someone actually tossed a dildo into the EZ at the Bills/Patriots Game...I've been watching football a long time and this was a first for me...)

To arcing toilet paper streams at the Chiefs/Rams Game thrown over the uprights while we made field goals. 

And assorted backflips into the endzones...the Buccaneers row row row your boat, along with a couple of players "swimming" beside it...even the backstroke...my favorite will always be the Waddle Waddle..with Waddle and team waddling out like so many penguins after a touchdown...

I laughed so hard it alarmed the cat.

The Bengals took out The Raiders.

The Buccaneers crushed The Eagles.

The Bills annihilated The Patriots.  

The Chiefs scalped The Steelers.

So we are down to eight teams standing.

The Titans

The Chiefs.

The Bills

The Bengals

The Packers

The Buccaneers

The 49ers

The Rams

Tomorrow 

The Titans play The Bengals at 4:30.

The Niners play The Packers at 8:15.

 

Dare I hope the Bengals and Niners both eliminate these top teams???

Because I am.

 

Sunday the Rams and Buccs go head to head at 3PM and The Chiefs and Bills play at 6:30...

I'm a little nervous.

Josh Allen is a force of nature.

It will be an amazing two days of food and football, though.

 

Just got back from Our January Getaway.

Great Inn...perfect suite...might be the best...amazing roast beef with all the sides and peach cobbler ala mode...a shopping trek to Ollies (...they have EVERYTHING...) and found my small ceramic heavy coated saute pan...and fresh blackberries for breakfast...and US, of course!

A nice drive around Terre Haute.

Looking forward to Our February Escape, already!!!

"So...you are planning to leave me again...???"

                                                                           Gadget

Sofi misses you already...but loves the treats :)

"All your treats are belong to me."
                                                      Sofi

Working on The 2022 Virtual Adventure...beginning China and all 23 Provinces on Chinese New Year...which falls on February 1st, this year.

Can't wait!

Finishing a Cinderella day here, and soon to take the new saute pan out for a test drive with peppers and onions to add to my marinara sauce and pasta.

Have a GREAT Weekend!!!

 

 

 

 

Update:

The Bengals have BEATEN The Titans!!!!!

We won...we won...we won!!!

The Titans are OUT!!!!

 

Update Update... 

So excited I can barely type this!!!!

The 49ers have beaten The Packers!!!!!!!

Green Bay is OUT!!!

 

Both of the top threats eliminated!

Going to sleep like a baby tonight!

 

The Playoffs Begin...and Some Good News...

 

And so it begins...

CRUNCH TIME

Today, with the Raiders and the Bengals...the Bengals currently up...but it is early. When the dust clears only one will be left standing.

Tonight, later, the Patriots and the Bills will go head to head.

A game I must watch.

...with John...and snacks...

Tomorrow, the Buccaneers and Eagles...and, of course, my Chiefs take on The Steelers later.

A weekend filled with football, food and a few jangled nerves, I'm betting.

This week has been a bit better than last...although night before last my neighbor, Rita, who ended up in a nursing home...passed away.

The best news is that James and Nicole seem to be pulling it back together...and scooped me up with my youngest grandson for breakfast at The Breakfast Company on Friday...which was wonderful!

The VA and assorted agencies worked long and hard to get Robert to Texas...and he is warmer and happy and pulling it together. Off the cold streets of Indianapolis.

Okay...to be fair it was actually snowing there about an hour ago...but yesterday it was 75...this is a freak thing and won't last...

Brenda was buried this week, and CD will be keeping Farley (...her little black dog...) so that is good. She and I are planning a Memorial Brunch before long.

Diane may join us.

Chris is still sorting things and I am trying to respect the space he needs right now. I love him and miss him.

...it isn't easy being a Mom...

And woke up to SNOW this morning!!!!

Just a light dusting, but still...

Finishing dishes and laundry and gathering trash before settling into the game.

 

Have a Great Weekend!

 

 

 

 "Relax...I'll be awake before kickoff..."

                                                    Gadget

 

 

 

 

The First Week of 2022

 

Brrrrr...

It has been kind of like this.

Yesterday woke up to 5 degrees.

Today is a bit warmer.

Rough start to the New Year.

Lost my friend, Brenda, to cancer.

Diane is slowly recovering from Covid.

Haven't seen/heard from Chris since Thanksgiving ...and James &
Nicole have separated.

 Bill's brother is homeless again...and needs help.

...big deep breath...

This too shall pass.

Truth be told, I have been somewhat immobilized this week from all of it.

But Nicki and James are dealing with everything as adults...and the grands seem to be okay.

Chris is sorting some things of his own, and hope it will all be okay in the end.

I'm going to help Rob (Bill's brother) get to a friend's in Dallas-Ft.Worth...at least he won't be homeless ( and will be somewhere warm).

I will miss Brenda, of course...and will see Diane as soon as her bout with Covid is over. 

She is doing much better.

John and I, are getting ready for Our January Adventure!

Loretta is good, and doing better than the lot of us.

I am vaccinated and boosted, masked and using Instacart and Grubhub...going out about once a week when I have to...

 Working on my Covid-Pouch...lol.

 Maybe back to normal by swimsuit season.

Fixed a huge pot of homemade vegetable soup to go with salad for the weekend.

And today is James' 35th Birthday!!!!

We will be seeing each other later this week...he is working some extra today.

I am OFFICIALLY older than dirt...lol

Seriously...two years of the plague (and abandoning the 5-2) has left me a size bigger...a bit greyer...and a LOT weaker/out of strength.

Must get back in control of myself, here.

Even John's squirrels have gotten round.

 

What are you feeding them, honey? 

Softballs?

 It is time to clear away the Christmas stuff...and take down the tree...and get ready for tomorrow's big game.

Colts vs Jaguars

A win...and we have made the playoffs.

A loss...and I believe we are out.

Go Colts!

                                          

"Nooooooooooooooooooo....not the tree!!!"

                                                              Sofi

"Shhhhhhhhh...I'm on squirrel patrol!!!"

                                                             Gadget

Love,

Carla

 

A bonus: The Chiefs play The Broncos at 4:30.

Yaaaayyy!

 

Update: WE WON...WE WON...WE WON!!!!