So, I have been a busy little bee. Since getting home from the cabin, I have been hitting it hard trying to keep ahead of the curve on new hires. And with some success. I've completed one class, and another starts Monday.
In fact, I was supposed to be at the cabin for a bit this week, but the handyman I wanted to meet with had a death in the family, so I ended up not going. I'll still have to make a trip up there soon, but I used the time to my benefit. I still used the PTO, since I didn't learn until Saturday that we wouldn't be able to meet.
Monday, I took a trip to Goodwill, hit up WalMart, then Costco for a few items, then got a pedicure and groceries. That may not seem like much, but it took up most of my day.
 |
| And it was crazy hot, and I have a lot of hair - in my defense. |
Yesterday was just about as action packed. I started by washing the truck. I had to return something to WalMart because it didn't work. Then I went to the Indian grocery store.
Let me back up for a second. On Monday, I noticed that Kroger had an insane deal on chicken drumsticks. And I love a good fried chicken leg, but I know I also don't fry chicken. So I kind of put that in the back of my mind, and eventually Googled a tandoori chicken/air fryer recipe. And that's what took me to the Indian grocery store (Patel Bros., if you're curious). I spent maybe 30 minutes wandering each aisle until I got the one thing I needed most - crushed fenugreek leaves. I mean, let's be honest, I probably could have made them without it, but why not just spend a few bucks in the local economy? It's a great market. I love Indian food, it should be said, so it just smelled spicy and heavenly in there. They have a case of hot foods - like wraps and samosas - not like a buffet, but I had already eaten breakfast (Waffle House, FTW) and had no space in my belly for anything extra.
Anyway, after the Indian market, I drove to Hester & Cook - this sweet little stationery/gift store on White Bridge. I was after a specific greeting card, but they didn't have it. I have one, somewhere at the house, but I can't lay hands on it, and my time is worth more than a replacement card. Instead, I bought a few other little tidbits. Then I headed to the Trader Joe's next door.
I took all that home and spent a few minutes with the dog. Then I went back to Kroger for the drumsticks.
I spent about 30 minutes removing the skins from the chicken legs and making the marinade. They're still in the fridge taking on the fenugreek, turmeric, garam masala, chili powder, paprika, ginger, garlic, lemon juice and yogurt. I'll air fry them tonight, and serve with them with rice, chutney that I got at Patel Bros, and a little cucumber salad just for fun.
Anyway - they were productive days off - though not especially restful.
I mean, getting the pedicure was restful and I used the massage chair, which was great.
And actually, the weekend was extremely restful. I took a sleep aid Friday night and slept deeply until Saturday AM. I woke up feeling amazing. So that was good.
To be fair, my brain was on overload Friday night. That's because in addition to crushing it with some new hires from 8-5, from 6-8, I was crushing it at Adult Musical Theater Camp. Me and two dozen other grown-ups making merry to the music of Wicked and Chicago. It was deeply satisfying and a lot of fun. I loved it, and it was honestly pretty challenging - if you're me. I am not a dancer. The singing and monologues were easy. The grapevine will always flummox me. But to my surprise, it all came together, and we had a great little performance. I left with such a bittersweet joy - I will miss it, I will miss them. But we do have a group text if I need to reach out and touch someone.
My next adventure starts in August. I will be taking a stand-up comedy class. I feel ready. I took one when I was 20, and surely comedy is exactly the same as it was 31 years ago. So... yeah. I am excited though. And I want to make some new friendies.
In other news, it appears I'll be adding another state to my "visited" list later this year. Matt's sister has planned a trip to Rhode Island - her boyfriend, his kids, cousins Susan and Phillip and us. I am excited, but I need to figure out what there is to do there. I mean, I know there's plenty, but we're new to the vacation for vacation's sake. We've had so many "oblications" over the past 20 years, this will be uncharted territory.
We're about to celebrate Matt's 52nd birthday. We're having dinner with friends. I picked The International Market, for a lot of reasons, but mostly because I saw a piece on them on PBS recently and was reminded how much I like Arnold Myint's food. And because our friends are vegetarian, so I need to make decisions based on them not being left out in the cold. For example, I took Matt to Sperry's last year - that would be a bad choice for our friends.
But I may book us a table at Sperry's for our 21st anniversary next month. Because we do like a little red meat, and their sticky toffee pudding is insane.
It's telling that food is the primary subject of this post.
But anyway, that's the latest from here. And you?
ae
Comments
Also it's great to hear that the Adult Musical Theater Camp went well and good luck with the standup class. True story: I took a standup class the University School. During a break I asked the instructor if he knew where the bathroom was. He said down the hall. When I came back he asked if I'd found it. I said, "No so I just went in a trash can in the principal's office."
He laughed. We weren't graded but I figure if you make a standup teacher laugh you've aced the class.