What's on your Tuesday Menu?

Good morning, everybody!

I was happy with how the smoked salmon came out. I couldn't really tell the difference between the Hickory and Applewood smoking, but next time I am at Home Depot, I will pick up a bag of the applewood and try it.

Work was super busy yesterday and is looking that way today, also. Hopefully, it will taper down as we get towards tomorrow and Thursday. Our offices are now officially closed until after New Years. We were going to be shut down for the holiday week anyways, so they just went four days of work from home with COVID spiking up again. It doesn't really matter to me because I wasn't going to be in the office this week anyways.

The kids want to go to the movies to see Spiderman tonight, so we may do that. We will go to Studio Movie Grill, which is pretty spread out.

We got my son step-up rails for his truck, and looking at the weather forecast, the best day to install them will actually be on Christmas Day. So I have to decide between leaving the comfy house on Christmas vs. a much colder day to lie on the pavement and wrench the rails into the undercarriage of his truck.

QOTD: It will be just the five of us. Super excited to have all of our kids home.

Breakfast: Smoked salmon

lunch: Turkey sandwhich

Dinner: Studio Movei Grill, maybe

Have a great day, all!

I bet the flavor difference between the two kinds of wood is pretty minimal. A "super taster" could probably tell the difference, but I bet most people couldn't - it would just taste "smoked" either way...

I am not a super taster, thank goodness, but my nephew smokes cheese for me with all different woods and there is a difference. To me hickory is more sharp and Smokey but apple wood is milder and sweeter. My favorite is the cherrywood! He did one with pecan shells and I did not love that, it was a bit bitter.

We did salmon on our little smoker too! It was quite good. I have found I like maple a lot...mesquite for some...it's a stronger one and very distinct. Applewood is good too. I want to do hamburgers next when I feel better.

Mornin'!

I love the Japanese word and the cookies, too! You are so talented!!

My mom has another appt today (ophthalmologist), and I'm still working on this IT-related issue for one of my organizations. It was so stressful dealing with this yesterday that I actually stress ate, which I normally don't do (bored eating - yes - but usually not stress eating. So it must have been really bad!!!). Hopefully it'll go better today and I can figure this out and get it done and off my plate. Other than that, I'm meeting up with someone during my mom's appointment because she's going to give me some of her KN95 masks. She bought a ton of them - more than she can use. I'm going to start wearing them again given this new, more contagious variant (I do have one that I wore in riskier situations, but it's past its prime). I'm also going to attend the senior strength-training class at the gym today. It's usually not that well-attended and everyone masks (plus we're all seniors, of course - thus vaxxed), but I'm really going back & forth on attending classes at all for the next couple of months. I've definitely decided to give up on the water-based ones for the time being. Too many people - and not many of them mask (masking is optional in the pool, of course - since the lap swimmers really can't wear them). We haven't been hit yet with the surge, although there are a few cases here and there - so I'm guessing we will be in another week or two given how fast moving this is.

QOTD: we have a small family (mother, MIL, sister, BIL, and niece), so we're planning on getting together for Christmas dinner at my mom's, but of course that could change if someone gets sick. We're all triple vaxxed and careful, so hopefully we'll be OK...

B: not hungry at all this morning, so I think i'll just have some Greek yogurt instead of the planned breakfast

MS: protein shake

L: maybe some of the chocolate "mousse" I made out of cottage cheese and protein powder (since it's super filling). Should get me through most of the afternoon

AS: if needed, maybe a protein muffin

D: two little chicken skewers (75 calories each) and cole slaw with Chinese-style dressing

have a great day, everyone!

Good morning! LOVE today's word of the day. It describes me perfectly yesterday. I was hunting all day for food. Could not find the thing that satisfied me. I only over did it by a bit -- but alas, my mouth is still lonely and sad. I'm afraid it's hunting for Doritos. And that's not going to happen. I did go and have my Global Entry appointment yesterday. Seems like they don't think I look like a terrorist and I've been approved. Will make future travels easier they tell me.

QJB-- love the milk and cookies. Absolutely adorable!

Today looks busy at work and then I rush off to get my brows done ( priorities, people!). That's it for my big day.

QoTD: My Dad is coming and my daughter, son in law and grand girls. Everyone is vaxxed and boosted where allowed based on age. Even the kids have their second doses. And since my daughter, son in law and I all work in the same office together, we've always considered ourselves in the same bubble. If my Dad wanted to keep people at a distance, I would totally respect that. But he feels like he's safe with his vaccines and at 84, would rather take the small risk of infection rather than miss spending the time with his family. We've all been extra careful about masking up when we are out in public leading up to his visit.

Menu:

B: leftover pork adobo and veggies with a bit of cottage cheese to boost the protein

L: left over taco. I ordered two, have 1 1/4 left. Maybe I will eat the 1/4 to get the "crunch factor" and just the insides of the other one.

D: Shepard's pie, homemade, and I'll go very light on the mashed potatoes

Peace Everyone!

Global entry is a game changer if you travel internationally a lot. I renew mine the days it's eligible just so I never have a gap!

when you get your KT, update all your airline loyalty programs so that you get precheck as much as possible.

Thank you! I will. We are making plans for post retirement, and I'm excited to make it easier on us! It took me ONE FULL YEAR to get an appointment! I applied back in November 2020.

G'morning all!

QJB - Those cookies look so good and almost a shame to eat them.

Still around...yesterday I had a beautiful day with DD. Planned the Xmas eve dinner menu and then we went shopping to 2-3 different places to get everything. Had lunch at a Mexican restaurant that is a hole in the wall but the food is very good.

Today DS arrives and we are picking him up around 4:30. We are celebrating DH's bday (which is tomorrow) tonight when we are all together. From the airport going to eat out and then go see the Xmas lights show at a park where you drive through. It should be fun. Tomorrow DH is planning the whole day starting with golf on the cliff (they just hit the balls on the cliff down into the ocean - I know it's bad but he does this once a year), at some point we'll watch the new Matrix, and then use his new mid life crisis toy (a cross country electric mountain bike) to ride on the beach, which is illegal because the bike can go up to 35 miles an hr. But it's his bday and he wants to do it, especially because DS is excited about it and that kid is never excited about anything.

QOTD: our annual Xmas eve party is canceled again. It will be just the 4 of us. We will get together on Xmas day, outdoors, with MIL, BIL and his wife. The whole reason being this might be MIL's last Xmas.

My meals yesterday:

• B: protein coffee
• L: burrito bowl, w/chorizo, no rice
• S: hot cocoa bomb + gingerbread mug hanger (the things I eat and drink when DD is home)
• D: skipped
• E: 30 minutes cardio + 50 minutes weight training

Have a great Taco Tue.

That sounds like a great and perfect bday for your hubby!!