"OLDING" - TV REVIEWS - LASAGNA - WHY WE PREPARE - JIBBER JABBER

Finally got back together with a neighbor friend for our Friday lunch out date. We get to get caught up on each other's weeks in review and enjoy one of our local eateries in the process. 

I picked him up and he extended his hand for a hello shake with "how are you doing." I actually took a moment to answer thinking of this and thinking of that, landing on "doing just fine, and you?" Explaining one of my aches and pains or being generally pissy due to getting older, I always opt for an "doing just fine response." I thought that there ought to be a term for these years. A term that encompasses the challenges to the aging years and I came up with "OLDING." For me, that encompasses all that is going on from day to day. 

Here is a comprehensive list of the challenges living in one's 80's.

1. Everything! 

Yep, most everything is a challenge. Not impossible, but for sure more work and energy needs to be applied to everyday norms. I find myself getting tired from what use to be the simple workings of everyday comings and goings. Just trying to get my hooded sweat shirt on with both arms in a sleeve while fighting the drag coefficient between sweat shirt and under shirt becomes a comedy. You would shake your head and think I am blowing this simple event way out of proportion. My wife comes to my rescue to the point of now being available for that moment of my morning dressing. I think it may scare her somewhat seeing me turn circles, both arms tied up, sweat shirt over my head and stuck inside that process. "How did you injure yourself, sir?" "I was putting on my sweatshirt."

Nevertheless, I am in the gym three times a week now and am noticing improvement in leg strength and balance. I am not young again by any stretch of the imagination, but there is proof in the benefits of exercising. 

The weather is improving in east Texas. Sunshine, 70s and 80s in the forecast. Initial count of things that need to be addressed outside and my wife counted "eleventy-million". We have decided to "Call the guy" to help us with a few of the big clean-up items. A small dumpster will be delivered mid-week and we are looking forward to throwing and throwing away clutter. My bet is we will fill it on day one. Enough!

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SUPER BOWL TODAY

For the past years, I have railed here over this yearly meeting of football teams and it is only getting worse for me. I am not adapting to change and more importantly, will not put myself in those arenas only to be disappointed.  "Bring in the clowns." It all started with the taking of the knee being pushed in our faces. From what I read..............well............ 

I did buy a large package of wings "in honor" past games, though. We both like them salted, garlic butter and then baked. The last couple minutes under the broiler. Wings and green salad for dinner will be our event this Super Bowl weekend. 

But there was a time when Super Bowl Sunday owned my day. Snacks, sitting on the couch, visiting with friends and a quieting of our visiting when the first Budweiser commercial aired. Quite often, we would be moved to tears for the love for this game. Budweiser could always be counted on to up hold and present the American way. Pride, honor, team work, the flag, Clydesdales and puppies reinforcing an "Americana" down deep inside. If the game was not up to our expectations, Budweiser would fill those moments between downs. Budweiser was the gold standard with whom all other advertisers competed.

The half-time shows were for the whole family to watch. 

I remember this moment and still cry today.  

"Those were the days my friends, those were the days."

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MOVIE REVIEWS

We found a 6-episode series on Prime called STEAL.  Great storytelling with beginning, middle and end. No season two. I highly recommend giving this series a watch. 

Having finished the above series, we are now re-watching SILK.  Three seasons, excellent storytelling and excellent actors and actresses. Worth giving it a try. I have mentioned this before.

Surprisingly, some of the best story telling, in my opinion, these days is coming from British (albeit older) television.

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TURKEY BURGER LASAGNA

Foodie photo sent by New Hampshire family. It is Lasagna and I would elbow up for a dish of this without issue. I like the photo!

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WHY WE PREPARE

This photo was taken a few years ago at the old home in New Hampshire. A heavy/wet snowfall made for a beautiful morning photo. Son's truck can be seen peaking through the trees as he was trying to get up the driveway. And there IS a driveway there, neatly defined prior to this snowfall. 

If a freeze follows a snow fall like this, it can shut power down for days at a time. 
It would have been a perfect storm event preventing us from going anywhere till a thaw came. But that happened one time and we were prepared with a generator, plenty of stores on the shelves and firewood in the shed. 

Even now, living in Texas, a icy winter storm warning brings this snow day up north into my memory. Being without power for extended periods of time in winters like this can become life-threatening and beyond a mere inconvenience. Planning and prepping makes a bad storm event much easier to navigate.

I got out after I took this photo and met son in the middle of the driveway shaking snow from tree branches. That allowed for the snow removal to begin.

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JIBBER JABBER

We find these kinds of meals at ALDIS. Bremer is one of their brands and we have found these prepared meals to be just fine. Not having/wanting to cook dinners seems to happen more often, and finding an oven-baked meal that serves us with flavor/"eatability" and ease of cooking is a good find. When my wife comments two or three times that this "is just fine", it means we will start keeping a couple of these in the freezer. This meals serves two folks perfectly. Not pushing Aldi's here, just sharing good eats that we have found.

Appreciate the visit this week.