Snippets of the weekend 10.3.2022

I spent the weekend with my BFF Kim and her fam in Massachusetts. I got to walk my goddaughter to and from school on Friday, and we did a lot of lounging and cooking for the freezer and eating. It was a nice chill fall weekend that was actually borderline chilly temp-wise Sunday. 

It was grand until the shit weather drive from PHL airport back to northeast Philly. Poor visibility! At this age, who needs it.

If you are new to batch or freezer cooking, some easy ways to start: pluck a rotisserie and shred or chop the meat to freeze and throw in future dishes, then use the carcasses to make bone broth and base a soup off of that (I did chicken and rice this weekend); pulled pork - spice rub only so it can be used for carnitas or doused in BBQ for pulled pork sandwiches - when you liberate it from the freezer, you can crisp it up by throwing it under the broiler for a few; turchicken (mix ground turkey and ground chicken, it helps with the blah turkey flavor) and ground beef - brown and freeze plain for use in future dishes or do what I did here and season for use in tacos or enchiladas; chili; french dip sandwiches

Happy happy birthday to my fabulous niece Lola yesterday. 

In addition to snippets here, I've been doing weekending reels on Instagram if you are interested. 

Hope yours was good!

TWTW - the one away in MA

Friday My alarm went off at the inhospitable time of 5:15. I was sitting in dead stop traffic on 95 by 6:20 after hitting snooze a few times, showering, and getting a DD iced; and had done my before 9 am Friday tasks and sat my ass on a plane by 8:35. Steve picked me up from the airport and I worked the afternoon at Kim's dining room table until she got home from work. We spent the late afternoon and early evening outside with wine, a nice breeze, and late day sun, then moved inside to freaking delicious Sicilian pizza and couch. I was asleep right before 11.

Saturday Started with barbies, coffee, selfies with emotive faces on demand, and crawling my big old ass in and out of a play castle. Kim and I took Libby to soccer and it was gorgeous out but freaking hot. Kim and I were together on September 11 in 2001 and not ever since. We met Kelly for a ladies who lunch late lunch at Earl's in Somerville and it was perfect. I hadn't seen Kelly in way too long, and the temps were just right for sitting outside with 407 different drinks, apps, and a hot chicken sandwich. We ran through CVS then headed home for couch and just being. It's a gift to sit around with each other as adults who live about seven hours apart. We never need to actually do anything, that is the doing.

Sunday All good things must come to an end. Breakfast was a delicious ham egg and cheese on an english muffin and Kim's sweet potato hashbrowns. It was time to leave before I knew it and I was deposited back at the airport at 11ish, got back to my car in Philly before 3, and to the shore by 4, encountering many assholes along the way who either forgot how to act in public or never knew how to act in public. It's been a long time since I did an asshole post since I have not been around a ton of people but I have quite a few entries amassed now. Anyhoo I put stuff away in the apartment, MFD arrived with the animals, I hit ACME, salads for dinner, some cleaning upstairs when last guests (returning long weekenders) for the year left at 8. 

I always love going up to visit my Boston fam. Thanks to Kim & Libby & Steve! I cannot believe Libby is five. So smart and silly and funny and wonderful. Kim and Steve are of course those things too LOL. Until next time.

This is the N95 mask I used to travel and it was super comfortable if anyone is in the market. It's not top of the line/medical grade but it served my purposes and was great for my claustrophobia that is exacerbated on planes. 

Show Us Your Books is tomorrow! See you back here for that. 

TWTW - entering into August

Friday It was a hellfire day like olden times where I was out of the house by 7 and in my office by 8:15 to have a full printer issue up against a hard copy deliverable deadline. FedEx Office saved the day, I made the deadline, and managed to fit in an acupuncture appointment I was sorely in need of. I did miss my homebound train by three minutes and since they're only running on the hour, I waited an hour and got home after 7. I pan fried some salmon to go with leftover potatoes and cauliflower and put some of the stuff in the house to right before falling into a dead sleep around 11. 

Saturday I was up by 7, MFD was out of the house with all dogs by 9:15 to do shore turnover, and I did some cleaning and putting away, laundry, vacuuming, nail painting, etc. I even cleared the dining room table. My parents arrived to stay for a few days, and I left for Melissa's. Kim was down with Libby visiting her parents and her and set up a date with Melissa and Zo. The timing was perfect, the weather was perfect, and it was so nice to sit around and do nothing but talk and laugh and eat Melissa's delicious food and drink beer slower than her grandmother (LOLOLOL). I went to bed around 11:30. 

Sunday I stayed in bed until close to 9 and it was freaking amazing to get a deep solid sleep with no dogs and no time to get up. We had coffee and bagels and watched Libby's programs before I headed down to the shore. I stopped at the produce store and the library before heading to my house. It was a weird weather day, so we sat on the porch and took a few walks, I read a book, tomato sandwiches for dinner, and the remaining episodes of Dr. Death at night.

This week is free from external deadlines for the first time in I am not sure how long, and I plan to be balanced as a motherfucker with work and personal life. 

Happy happy birthday to Evan today! Anyone needing photography for corporate ( in studio or on location, headshots/web photo updates, events, openings, announcements, project documentation, product shots, catalogs, etc), wedding, engagement, kid pics, family photos, you name it, Evan does it via Evan Leslie Images, primarily in PA, NJ, and DE. 

TWTW - the one with the godmothering

Friday morning found me running on less than five hours of sleep. After a quick unpack/repack and painting my janky ass vacation nails, I was on the road to the airport by 11:30. The 25 minute trip took an hour including a very near accident. I followed this joy with a pat down and luggage search. I was tired and hangry, which is my danger zone. Then a snarky lady wanted to huff and puff at me because my book was on a seat I did not know she was occupying. No problem, I moved my book immediately. Her and her boyfriend (who did not tell me she was sitting there) then made we'll talk about a lot of things later statements and gestured to me. I guess they were hoping I wasn't looking or wouldn't respond if I was? Wrong on both counts. I will hand you your ass in public, loudly, and not care. Toodleoo, majafackahs. All was well once I arrived in Boston though and met my darling Libby, hung out with Kim and her mom, and had a fabulous steak kebab meal courtesy of Steve. I slept like the dead and regret nothing.

Saturday was a slow and easy day. We were ladies who lunched at Zuzu's Cafe in Wakefield followed by a short walk around Lake Quannapowitt. The company was wonderful, as was the food, and Zuzu's was definitely owned by someone in my tribe. 

The rest of the day was filled with playing on the floor and finishing The Hate U Give (read it, I did, in less than 24 hours). I also placed my Amazon Fresh grocery order and tried to get my poop in a pile for the week ahead. Libby is sassy and smart. She makes me laugh and I love her. She growls and it is hilarious. 

Sunday I ate myself silly at a lovely pre-Baptism brunch at Kim & Steve's before heading off to the church to assume the official godmother role. The Priest had a great personality and a penchant for being short and sweet, always appreciated in the heat. 

It was time to say goodbye too soon, and my ass was deposited at the airport by 2:45. And this is one of the reasons I dislike Starbucks. It's not that hard, Starbucks. It's not hard at all. I was also sad that Boston, the home of DD, did not have one near my gate. 

Reunion number two with los perros by 7:15, food ordered and delivered by 8:15, and groceries arrived by 8:30. Weekly food prep: breakfasts are scrambled eggs with green onions and cheese with a tiny broccoli topper; three days of lunches are turkey kielbasa with cheese inside over colorful cauliflower and/or broccoli; snacks are strawberries, peaches, and cucumbers; dinners will be some type of chicken thighs meal. That was supposed to be lunch but they arrived frozen and I don't have time to pussyfoot around with frozen poultry at 8:30 on a Sunday night.

First day back in the office in two weeks. This should be fun. And awaaaay we go.

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending