One Drawer at a Time - Keeping things together

 I have been finding it interesting while I am going through my kitchen cabinets that not only have I been keeping like things separated, i.e. glasses over here in this cabinet, glasses in that one, but I am also realizing that I will separate parts to kitchen gadgets.  While it is really not a big deal in the long run, I have been wondering to myself why I do that?  Why not keep all of the pieces to things together in one place?  It's not that difficult so I have no clue why I have not been doing that for all of these years.  This process is going to help me to correct that issue.

I was going through some cabinets the other day where I keep some kitchen tools like my food processor and my rice cooker.  The cabinet only has three shelves in it yet I manage to spread out the parts all over in different places.  Almost like there was some kind of kitchen gadget accident and pieces went flying.  Wherever they landed, there they stayed.  I'm happy to say that is not the case.   I have just been lazy when I put things back up.  So now, everything that goes to my food processor like the different blades and the different attachments are all together.  The parts of my rice cooker are nicely nestled in one corner.  It's the little things, you all.  This makes me happy and I feel like I am better organized because of that.  Well, I am better organized because of it.  That is the entire point of this exercise.

Not mine but you get the idea of all of the parts!

Next up is the spice shelf and then the food cabinets.  I'm quivering with anticipation!

Selecting my next book

 

I am about halfway through the Tim Curry biography, so I am happy with my progress there.  I did not read as much as I had originally planned this weekend, but I did get some in.  Honestly, since the weather was pretty clear compared to the past few weekends, I spent most of my free time finally getting my Christmas decorations put away. I have not been in a huge hurry to put them away, but since I had the time on my hands, I wanted to get it done. 

Now that I am halfway through this book, I am thinking ahead to what I want to read next.  I literally have at least a hundred books at my disposal here in the house that I have not read yet.  But what kind of book do I want?  I want to read something different than the kind I'm currently reading.  I love biographies and could spend my time just reading those, but I want to branch out to something else. It's not like I don't read other things; those are just some of my favorites. 

I checked my bookshelf on Good Reads to see what all I had listed in my "want to read" section.  That's when I realized that I still had a book labeled "in progress".  It's a book called Teenage Outdoor Stories.  It's a collection of short stories from 1947.  No doubt this book belonged to my Uncle Bill.  I got this book from Grandmother's house when I was a teenager.  So, I think I've found my next book.  I remember that the few stories I have read have been entertaining.  Problem solved!

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

Observe the ordinary events that occur around you.  When you spend an extra moment looking, they can transform into rich treasures.  Thing back to your own childhood and recall that some of the most vivid and happy memories were made when you were doing the simplest of everyday things. 

Morning Prayer

 I did not sleep well last night.  I woke up at 3:00 a.m. from a nightmare.  I have not had a nightmare in decades so I'm not sure why I had one last night.  But it did scare me, so I'm glad I made it through the night and that I am up and about my business today.  Just saying thanks for that. 

Recipe of the Week - Sausage with peppers and onions

 Kielbasa is not something that I buy regularly.  But whenever it is on sale, I will snatch it up as do I enjoy it.  Normally I will use it in a pasta dish. I wanted to do something different and found this recipe online.  It's very easy and it is similar to what I've done on the stove top but only this is in the oven. I really liked how it turned out and how it easy it is.  I will definitely make this again! I was not always successful and not slicing all the way through the kielbasa but that will come with more practice!

Sausage with Peppers and Onions

1 16oz Kielbasa

1 red pepper, cut into 1" chunks

1 yellow pepper, cut into 1" chunks

1 onion, cut into chunks

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 400.  Cut sausage into 1" chunks but don't cut all the way through. Put onto a lined baking sheet.  Toss all other ingredients together.  Place veggies around sausage.  Brush remaining oil on the sausage.  Bake for 20 minutes. 

Getting inspired for theatre

 Several weeks ago, I spent my Saturday afternoon reading a new play.  That is something that I have not done willingly since I was in college the first time.  It is not because I do not enjoy reading plays.  As a former theatre student, I loved it.  I just have not made the opportunity to actually sit down and read something new.  Sidenote, I did pick up a collection of Alejandro Sievking's plays last year at a thrift store and I did read the one I loved, The Praying Mantis, but that one was not new to me.  I have not read the other ones yet as I loaned that to a friend.

So, the play I read was The Book of Will by Laura Gunderson.  The premise of the play is two friends of Shakespeare's are trying to put together a portfolio of his works after his death.  They are trying to find the plays and piece them all back together with the help of different characters.  I found the play to be very interesting though I could never quite determine if it was a comedy or drama or a combination.  I could really see it going any of those ways. And that is one of the reasons that I think it's a very good play. The writing is excellent and yet it does not trap the actors or director into a preconceived notion of how to interpret the script.  It simply depends on how one approaches the work.

The Little Theatre of Winston will be doing this show soon and I must see it.  I have several friends in the cast.  I had thought about auditioning for this one, but circumstances did not allow it this time.  There was actually one part I was very interested in, and it wasn't either of the two leads LOL  But I know it's going to be a great show, and I am looking forward to it. But reading the play got me very inspired to have theatre be an active part of my life again.  Whether it be onstage, backstage or in the audience or even being an advocate for the arts, I now feel motivated to make my presence known in this world again.  And that is a good feeling.  

Theatre has always been such an important part of my life in many ways.  I had forgotten that and the excitement around theatre has been hibernating in my soul.  It's time to awaken the bear and be a part of this community again.

10 local restaurants I want to try

 We have had several good restaurants close over the past few weeks.  All locally owned.  So, I want to do my part in putting a little money back into the local economy.  I went online today to look up local restaurants that I have not tried yet.  There were way more than I really thought there would be.  And I was surprised at how many of them I have actually eaten at.  It reminded me that I liked the majority of them and need to revisit.  While there are many more local restaurants that I intend to try out, here are the ten that got my attention today.  

1. Nostra Pizza and Italian Restaurant

2. Creek Stone Bar & Grill

3. One Wok Chinese Grill

4. Coliseum Country Cafe

5. La Costenita

6. Strawberry's Breakfast House

7. Freeman's Grub & Pub

8. Zeeyum Kitchen

9. Bandito Bodega

10. Noor Kitchen & Cocktails 

Have any of you locals been to any of these places?  I would love some feedback.  Or are you interested in trying them out with me?  I would love some company!

Taking a vacation

 

I want to take a vacation this year.  I haven't had a real vacation in several years.  Definitely not since I've been single.  There just hasn't been much reason to take one.  So, I would love to take one this year. I started doing some preliminary research and it was very depressing.  Everything, and I mean everything, is so expensive.  Looking at hotels.  Looking at sites and attractions.  It adds up so quickly that part of me wants to give up even putting any more effort into it.  But I will regret that if I do. 

I looked back at my list from last year and there were several places on it I would love to take a vacation this year.  The mountains. The beach.  Savannah, Charleston, Colonial Williamsburg, Wilmington. I really need to do some more research on that and look for some package deals. I may even find other places I had not even thought of. 

I was talking with some friends of mine at work today about it.  They all have some amazing vacations planned.  Granted, they make a lot more than me.  But there's got to be something out there for my budget.  I am not comfortable asking anyone if I can crash at their place.  I'm just not good enough friends to do that with anyone.  I would not be opposed to having company on a vacation.  But who would I ask?  This will be one of those "learn how to enjoy being by yourself" experiences LOL

Still, I will keep doing some research and see what I come up with.  If you have any suggestions or would be interested in planning something together, just let me know!

Reading every day

 

We are now five days into the month and so far, my daily challenge is going well.  I have made time every day to read. As simple as that sounds, it's a big deal for me. I love to read.  Something that has increased with age, to be honest.  But these days, I love the escape that it gives me from everyday life.  I can go anywhere and do anything within the pages of a book. Having that time every day to transport myself into someone else's life, someone else's world, is very liberating for me. But I have not always made the time for it. This month, I am changing that. Every year I do the Good Reads reading challenge and set the bar high for myself.  I have never accomplished my goals in that challenge but this year, it is a definite possibility that I will succeed at it.  Go me!!

I love to read biographies and autobiographies.  Especially of actors because I know their work and reading about their lives only deepens my appreciating of the art that they have created. I wanted to start my February daily challenge with a biography.  For my birthday this year, Michael gave me a copy of Tim Curry's autobiography, Vagabond, A Memoir.  My first exposure to Tim Curry was in the movie Clue.  It is one of my favorite movies and I have seen it thousands of times.  It never gets old to me. Wadsworth, the butler, is my favorite character and Tim does it so well.  Since then, I have seen him in other films, and I always have enjoyed his work. So this was a perfect book for me to begin this challenge.  I am already almost halfway through the book which is pretty fast reading for me.  I am pleased with my progress and am really enjoying the book itself.  He has just finished up filming Rocky Horror, so I am very interested to see what lies ahead! I'll keep you updated!

A Little Good News - Anne Murray

 I have posted this song before but it's one of my favorites by Anne Murray.  And it's very appropriate for our times, I believe. And some days, I just want a little good news to start my day! 

1 Corinthians 13 4-8

 

These storms were different for me

 As many of you know and have also experienced, we have had two weekends of winter weather.  Two weekends ago, we got an ice storm and this past weekend we got a very big (for us) snowstorm. I am very grateful to the people in my life that looked out for me over those two weekends.  Whether it was here at home with Jason and Lois, or Michael texting to check on me, or my boss Kirstin making sure that I was safe, it was comforting to have that. 

This time around was different for me though.  Normally whenever there is a forecast of wintry precipitation, I almost always immediately begin to panic, and my anxiety level can go through the roof.  I'm not sure why I have felt like that but that's the truth.  It did not matter if I was single or not or living with someone romantically or platonically, it just stressed me out.  This year, I did not feel any of that.  

I was as prepared as I could be for both storms. Probably not as prepared as I should have been, but I have been taking notes on that! But neither storm did I freak out about it.  I accepted the fact that whatever was going to happen, I had no control over so I would not let it worry me.  And it did not.  I had plans in place for anything the storms threw my way. I made the decision early on that my safety came first and, because of that, I did not get behind the wheel of my car until I felt that I could handle it.  That took a huge weight off of my shoulders. 

Not that I want another winter storm anytime soon, but I need to be prepared as we are just barely one month into winter.  And I have already started making better preparations if needed.  Things that I did not have in place but most likely should.  It has been that sense of calm and preparedness that carried me through these storms mostly stress free.  I have learned along the way that self-care is extremely important in my life.  Once I realized that putting my needs first during times like these is absolutely fine, I weathered the storm much better than I ever have.  Thank goodness!

One Drawer at a Time Update

 I started my "every day" process of cleaning and organizing again at the beginning of the year.  So, I'm one month in.  I chose to do the process a little differently this year and I have discovered that I do not believe that is going to work for me. I was doing one thing in one room and then going on to do one thing in another room and so forth until I had done something in each room before starting the cycle over again. While I did it that way and wrote down what I had done in each room, it simply does not feel right. I got things done and organized.  I do not like it as much, though, because I am not seeing the results that I did when I focused on one room at a time.  I could really see a difference when I would spend a few weeks in each room.  It made more sense to me that way.  I am glad that I tried something different but now I know what really works for me.  So, I will be going back to focusing on one room and not moving on until I finish up that room.  Also, and I have no problem admitting this, I still have a lot of my Christmas stuff up.  I am working, albeit slowly, on getting it all put away.  In the meantime, it does make things a little more problematic because the rooms are not like they normally are throughout the year.  So, I will go back to focusing on getting the kitchen done first.  There aren't very many decorations in there left so I can definitely work around that. Plus, since I'm in that room so much, I will be able to really see my progress. And that is really something with this process that I need.  I can do that. 

The round glass platter

 

I remember this platter from my childhood.  For years, it was a part of our kitchen. Mom always had hers displayed on the counter. It stood up against the 70s orange counter.  It looked wonderful.  I do not know whatever happened to hers.  But I do know that she used it.  It was brought out for company, especially in the summer if we cooked out.  All of the toppings for burgers and hot dogs were put on this platter.  I honestly do not remember when she got rid of it or why or even if Bill has it.  But I remember it fondly.

Several years ago, I was able to find one on Ebay.  I do not know what my life would be like without Ebay LOL  Still, I got it for a very good price and absolutely love it.  I have tried to find information on the maker but have had no luck so far. What I did find is other pieces that match this and yes, I am so excited about that. I have found square platters and rectangular platters.  They all have this wonderful vegetable design on them.  I may add them to my wish list.

Anyway, I think that my platter is beyond fabulous.  I have used it several times but need to incorporate more into my weekly meals.  I can do that.  This is one of many things from my memories of childhood that I have tracked down online and purchased.  I take comfort in these things. Do any of you have such things in your house right now?  Things that you remembered and decided that you must have?  I would love to know!

Quote of the Week

 

A good quote to start a new month with!

Daily Challenge - Looking ahead to February

 

I can hardly believe that today is the last day of January.  This month has just flown by.  In some ways, I'm very glad of that. But I do often look back and think where the time went.  Ah, well.  On to new adventures in February.  I need to pick a daily challenge for February, and I am not sure which direction I will go. I am definitely going to keep up with my aerobic exercises next month.  The January weather did not help me with that at all.  Hoping for sunnier skies in February.  

Right now, what I'm leaning towards is reading.  I have so many books that I have not read.  Books that I want to read that have just sat on the shelf for years.  Thank goodness Ed McKay's moved to Mebane otherwise I would have even more books.  It's amazing what I could find on the free shelf or the bargain section.  I know that I should utilize the library instead and that is on my list as well.  But I would like to spend some time each day reading a book.  Some days, I actually miss having book reports to do.  Even though I absolutely hated them in elementary school, it did get me to read. Not always, but usually.  When I was in college and had a deadline, reading books was a lot easier for me.  I even enjoyed it in later years. 

So that will be my February challenge. I am going to read some every day.  Hopefully at least one chapter.  While this may sound silly to some, it will be good for me.  It will create a nice escape each day from this dreary world we live in right now.  I don't know about you, but I could definitely use that from time to time!

Cooling down the job hunt

 

I often find that if I stop looking for something, then I am more likely to actually find it. And that seems to work in most areas of my life. I am not necessarily looking for a new job right now.  My job at Heritage Greens has many benefits to it.  I love the people I work for and with.  I have good benefits.  My schedule is great.  Of course, like most people, I could use more income because living check to check sucks.  But at least I know that I have money coming in. And right now, this job also gives me the freedom to work on other areas of my life that may not be possible with a new job.  

I started applying for jobs last year after graduating. I actually got several interviews in.  That was good because it had been years since I interviewed.  I would have loved to have had either of those jobs.  I was not qualified, so when I did not get them, I was not too disappointed. The interviews were great experiences, and I started the process of getting myself out there. I have not put in any applications in the past few months because, frankly, I wanted to enjoy my birthday and the holidays and not worry about that.  So that is what I did.

I am going to keep looking around at openings, but not with the attitude that I have to have something new right now.  I have to put this degree to use right now. I am putting my degree to use in what I do every day, and I need to remind myself of that as often as possible. But I feel like if I take my time and really look for things that I know I would enjoy doing with my career, that will give me the best possible outcome. It could be something that is not here in Greensboro.  I am open to relocation. It could be something that has nothing to do with my masters in gerontology.  As long as it sounds interesting and provides me with a good living, that would be ideal.

So, I am at this sort of crossroads of looking for a job and not looking for a job. I fully believe that the right opportunity will present itself one day.  It is looking for me as much as I am looking for it.  And there's really no harm in just looking, right?  I'll keep you posted. 

Going to the movies

 

Here in Greensboro, we seem to be having a lot of locally owned businesses close.  That makes me sad because we can do better than that.  Today, Red Cinemas announced it was permanently closed. I will admit that I have not done my part as far as movie theaters go because I have not been to a movie in a long time.  Mainly it is because there has not been anything I had the desire to see in the theater and pay the ticket price for.  There is one that is coming out this summer that I am definitely going to see but I will save that for another blog.

Anyway, the closing of Red Cinemas brought back lots of great memories of going to the movies in my life. The first movie I remember going to see was Annie.  There may have been others before that but that is the first one I remember.  I went to the movies a lot as a child.  Saw The Muppets, The Care Bears, Goonies, Disney movies.  There were two movie theaters in Monroe when I was growing up.  One was the Center Theater downtown and then there was another one in a shopping center.  I cannot remember the name of it, but we went there all the time when I was in middle school.  When it was not football season, Friday nights were for the movies. 

Buying the sodas in the paper cups that were falling apart by the end of the movie.  The big tubs of popcorn with extra butter.  Those ridiculously expensive boxes of candy.  Trying to find seats together.  This was in the days before reserving your seats online. Stepping on someone else trash that was left by the previous audience.  Stepping on people's feet trying to get to your seat.  Heaven forbid you had to use the bathroom during the movie. Those were all part of the great movie going experience. 

In college, I saw so many movies at either the Janus or the Terrace theaters.  Those were great movie houses.  I spent a lot of time and money there.  Going to see a movie in the theater is like no other experience. I understand the comfort of streaming and renting new movies to watch in the comfort of your home, but it is still not the same.  I am hoping that the closing of the Red Cinemas will motivate me to get out and see more movies.  I should try to find as independent a movie house in the area as there is and patron that.  Going to the movies is something everyone should experience and thanks to technology, we are slowly robbing future generations of that fun.  

Popcorn, anyone?

Remembering snow days

 

We certainly dodged a bullet last weekend with our winter storm.  While we did get some snow and some ice, it was not nearly as bad as was predicted.  Personally, I am quite thankful for that.  And I am very thankful that we did not lose power. I think that we would have managed just fine but still I am glad, nonetheless. I have talked about snow days on here before and every time we have any kind of an anticipated winter storm, that is where my mind goes.  It goes back to the snow days of my childhood. Back when you spent what felt like an eternity getting into your snow gear to go spend less than an hour outside.  We did have a great hill in our neighborhood for sledding.  And if you didn't have a sled, then a cardboard box would do.  Both worked great.  I did sled into the creek one year and had to go home after that for fear of frostbite.  Good times.

But this year I am remembering of how things were on the inside.  There was always something to do in the house on snow days.  I don't ever remember being bored.  We played with our toys.  We built things out of Legos.  There were jigsaw puzzles to do.  Coloring books that occupied hours of my time.  We played games and cards.  We made snow cream.  Grandmother was usually with us.  Mom or Dad would go and get her if it looked like snow. We were all together and that was what was so important.  That is what I remember about those snow days. I don't remember our power ever going out because of snow, but I imagine that it did at some point. For years, until I was a teenager, we had a working fireplace.  If you never had the joys of sitting in front of a roaring fire, you just don't know how wonderful that is.

This year, I am remembering those things more than usual. That time we spent with each other was so valuable.  I didn't realize it at the time, but I know it now.  I had Jason here at the house with me this last weekend and we also spent time with Lois next door.  Now I get why these times are important.  It was nice to go back and take things from my childhood experiences and incorporate them into today's snow days.  Not being glued to my phone or just binge watching something on tv.  Finding other, just as satisfying, ways of occupying my time.  I felt safe.  And that is what I remember from those childhood days.  I was always safe.  And in today's world, those fleeting moments of feeling safe are precious.

That is all. 

Recipe of the Week - Meatball Sub Casserole

 I tried this casserole last Friday night.  I wanted some comfort food and I wanted something relatively easy to make.  I watched a video on YouTube the day before from allrecipes.com that had this as one of their easy casserole recipes.  So, I decided to try it.  It turned out great and everyone who tried it has enjoyed it. It is definitely a keeper!  I love a good meatball sub but let's face it, they are messy to eat.  This gives me all of the flavor I enjoy and lets me not make such a mess.  I hope you enjoy it!

Meatball Sub Casserole

12 oz precooked Texas toast slices, cubed*

1 26oz bag frozen meatballs

2 Jars marinara sauce

1 onion chopped**

Shredded Mozzarella

Grated Parmesan

Preheat oven to 350. Sauté your onion until it begins to soften.  Add marinara sauce and meatballs.  Continue until heated through.  Layer your casserole with the cubed Texas toast.  Sprinkle a healthy portion of both cheeses on top.  Then spread your marinara mixture evenly over the cheese.  Top with remaining cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes until your cheese starts to bubble and brown.

*The original recipe called for the purchase of frozen garlic bread that you would cook, then let cool down and cube.  When I was shopping for the ingredients, it was more cost effective and time saving to buy the premade Texas toast from Food Lion's deli.

**You can add anything you want to this.  I like onions on my meatball sub so that's why I added them to my recipe.  You could do mushrooms or peppers or leave the veggies off all together.

Enjoy!

My Favorite Best Original Song Oscar Winners

 

The 2026 Oscar nominations announced earlier this week.  Granted, these days I know absolutely nothing about the films out this past year. I rarely go to the movies anymore, but oh well.  Once upon a time I was up on everything about the current films. Maybe one day I'll get back to that but in the meantime, I am remembering some of my favorite film moments.  Here are my top ten favorite songs that one the Best Original Song Oscar.  And none of them are from this century LOL What are your favorites that aren't listed?  I would love to know!

1. The Shadow of Your Smile from "The Sandpiper"

2. Last Dance from "Thank God It's Friday"

3. Let The River Run from "Working Girl"

4. Fame from "Fame"

5. When You Wish Upon a Star from "Pinocchio" 

6. Mona Lisa from "Captain Carey, U.S.A."

7. Over the Rainbow from "The Wizard of Oz"

8. Moon River from "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

9. The Time of My Life from "Dirty Dancing"

10. Under the Sea from "The Little Mermaid"

Not much fun going on last week LOL

Last week was a pretty quiet week as far as doing fun things is concerned. I tried another new recipe this week. It was a meatball sub casserole.  I was inspired by my friend Shelby, who runs a catering company.  She was selling them last week in preparation for the winter storm. Then I just happened to watch a video on YouTube that included this recipe.  So, I figured it was meant to be that I make it. I made it on Friday night and enjoyed it.  I probably enjoyed it a little too much because it got gone pretty quickly.  I will share that on her later on.

That was pretty much my fun for last week.  Getting ready for the winter storm kind of put things on the back burner as far as fun things to do was concerned. I did read a play, which was fun, called The Book of Will.  I had not read a play "new to me" in years.  So, I did enjoy that.  It made me excited about getting on the stage again.  It will not be with this show, but I am still getting excited, nonetheless.  I will go see it in a few months as I have several friends in a nearby production. So, I have that to look forward to!

Hopefully I will make some time this week to do something fun for myself. I know that the term fun is very subjective.  We all have different definitions of what we consider to be fun and that is ok. My hope is that the snow will start melting today and I can get out of the house.  That would be fun.  Getting back to my normal life is my focus after this weekend's weather. Is that fun?  Not necessarily but it is something to do!

Quote of the Week

 

Finding kindness in this world can often be trying.  Today, I look to Mother Nature for it. 

Being prepared for the weekend weather

 We have a winter storm coming here later today.  I can already tell you that I am not, repeat not, looking forward to it.  If it were only going to be snow, that would be fine.  That is manageable. It's the ice that I don't care for.  Power lines can go down because of ice and driving is extremely treacherous.  And for those of us who work, it really sucks.  Anyway, not the point of this today.  What I want to talk about is being prepared for this kind of occurrence. 

I know that I am not as prepared as I would like to be but at this point, there is not much I can do about that now.  What I need to start doing is making a preparedness checklist.  Yes, there's another one of those lists that I love!  But I always tend to forget about things until I'm in the middle of a disaster and it would be nice to not have to worry because I have already taken care of things.  Do any of you have a checklist that you keep handy?  I would love some suggestions.

We have food.  My car is filled up with gas, not that I have any intention of driving for next couple of days, but you never know.  I have actual cash on my person. So, I do have some things going for me. But there are things I need to do ahead of time for sure next time this happens.  I have a kerosene heater in the garage. It's old and has never been used.  I'm not even sure if it still works.  I need to find that out.  I need to make sure I have plenty of water.  Got some but not as much as I would like.  Making sure I have batteries.  I have some that should get us through this time.  But I need to see what things use batters and what size to make sure that I have them.  Like a radio or a lantern.  It's just the little things that make a difference with this sort of situation.

So, I am going to work on that.  And not just for winter weather but for any kind of weather emergency.  Hurricanes can come this way, after all.  I would say that the better prepared I am, the less stressed out I will be.  I am actually not as stressed out as I normally am, and I am not sure why.  I am going to just ride that wave and not question it. But I do know that being better prepared next time will also give me more of a chance to help others in their preparations.  

That ends today's installment of escapades in adulting.