Boxing sore...Yay!!!

Song of the day: “Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps” by Doris Day, of course. It’s been a while since I had this one in my head. Still a good song.

So…another time has passed, another blog arrived…with very little fun information, but we’re not here for the fun of it, are we. We’re here for life in general, whether good or bad, doesn’t really matter in the end. There’s ups, there’s downs, it’s how you handle the ride that matters in the end, right?

Well, let’s see what we’ve got. Made a wonderful apple pie crumble. A really big load of apples on a peanut, hazelnut base crust. Gawd, it worked out well. Just had my first piece and I really shouldn’t get another because too much sweetness really doesn’t help me much this late in the evening.

Good news is we have been doing a lot of workouts this past week. Last week we were too sick to do anything at the gym, but we hate waste, so to make up for the missed five days, we went there four days in a row. Added to that, I finally got around to asking the owner if there was a boxing bag I could use, and there was, so I spent the last two day kick boxing my behind off. Yesterday was great, first time in ages, made me nice and sore, and then when we went today, I got nice and warm from the normal iron pumping, which made me think, what the heck, I’ll do some more kick boxing…which I did, meaning that half an hour after the workout I was  so sore that even breathing hurt. Hah. No worries, though, the weekend is here so I’m free to recover for at least two days. Added to that, Monday we gotta decide whether to renew our memberships…which we are going to do, of course…and decide for how long. Either three months, or half a year. I’ll let you know what we’ll decide.

Been doing a lot of cleaning, lately. There were all these kitchen things that I’d bought, gathered for my future kitchen, all piled somewhere in a corner outside, meaning there was loads of grime to remove, branches, leaves and whatnot. It was a mess, and I haven’t gotten around to everything yet, but I’m getting there, slowly and steadily. I do have to admit to being really happy with the kitchen sink, because it’s making things so much easier.

Had a few trips involving donations, which took quite a bit of work. Can’t complain about that, however. Not looking a gift horse in the mouth and all that.

Been doing some serious cooking, including high protein stuff, considering we’re training and everything. Had some wonderful soups. A pumpkin one, and today a zucchini soup, both delicious, naturally. Also tried out a rather wonderful new recipe for green beans in a light cream sauce.

The weather has been wonderful…except since the day before yesterday when the temps suddenly dropped. We all know how I feel about bad weather.

Been writing every day, which is a good thing, really. The story is developing nicely, and yet my hero refuses to be the hero for the longest time. Instead he is being sarcastic, snarky, and indifferent to the ongoing disaster in the story. Poor guy doesn't know what toils lie ahead of him yet, does he.

Grandpa is still feeling poorly. He did finally go to a new GP, who referred him to a private hospital in Benalmadena, and an eye expert. Wow, what a difference from State hospitals (and I mean more than just the stunning prices that almost caused me a heart attack). Rather than waiting for some odd 6 to 8 hours, we were helped within half an hour, the problem was ascertained, and at least a temporary solution. Apparently grandpa, who has been refusing to go to an eye doctor because “that can’t be the problem” has glaucoma, which can be the cause of a lot of his problems. I get so tired from this stuff sometimes. I mean, I’m not all that keen on doctors myself, but if a problem persists…at least get another opinion to be sure what it is. With grandpa it is already almost too late. The damage done can’t be turned back, it is now all about preserving what is left of his eyesight.

Sitabah’s foot is rapidly healing now. She’s walking on it a little again, and making a pest of herself, naturally. Dax seems to be okay. With him the anti-parasite tablets I got at the vet’s seems to be working. Yet Jelly…I don’t like the look of him. I fear it is either Leishmania, or cancer, and if I don’t see improvement soon,  we’re going to have to have him checked out at the vet’s.

There was more cleaning outside, of course, which took time and effort to clean. There’s always more, for some reason, which is depressing because unless I actually start cleaning it myself, folks will see it, but not do anything about it. So much easier to just complain about it, rather than actually do something. I gotta admit to sometimes feeling like a glorified cleaning lady. Ah well…beggars can’t be choosers.

On the interesting news bit, I got a job interview next week. Don’t know yet how that will turn out, maybe it’ll be good, or it won’t, either way, I’ll let you know. I’m am not holding my breath for this one. It’s part time, and I responded to the ad more out of curiosity than anything, and was rather surprised to hear back from them, asking me for an interview. Like I said, you’ll be the first to know how it worked out.

Well, almost three in the morning now, and I gotta be up again within six hours, so I’m going to leave it at this. I’ll be back, though.

Gnawing

Song of the day: “Superheroes” by the Script.

Just got back from another workout at the gym. Doing a steady three days a week now, and hour every time, which is having its effect as in all my muscles are complaining a lot of the time. Hah. Didn’t help that we’re having a bit of a flue, or a cold thing going. Meaning we missed a day last week, which we had to catch up on, doing two days in a row, which was wonderfully exhausting. Seriously, we have pumped a lot of iron these past few weeks.

Had a short job these past couple of days. Involving a store that, according to the health inspector (I know those guys are nuts, but this just proved it to me) needed more shelving because having products on the floor was a hazard, or some such nonsense. Anyway, it wasn’t a big problem, solved it in a day…and might need to come back for some more, if they find that they still don’t have enough room. Which would be a good thing for us.

Have been doing some writing. Yay. Not as much as I would like to, but some and that is all that matters. My hero is sorta refusing to act like a hero, which could lead to some interesting stuff as the story progresses.

Cooking wise the only experiment I did was with asparagus. They weren’t bad, but also not something that I can’t live without. Baked them in butter, with green herbs, dried red chili, a dash of cane sugar and salt, and a sprits of lemon. I think that without the lemon it would have been great.

Doggies are doing fine, for a change, except for Sitabah who somehow got her foot in the neighborhood of Niobe, through the courtyard gate, meaning that she’s got a big gap in her foot. Which she is milking for all it’s worth. Seriously, you haven’t seen a more pitiful dog, unless of course there is a cat, or a rat to hunt, then she’ll just stand on it, and chase it.

Did some serious cleaning. A necessary thing, because stuff gets so messy so fast. There’s floors, dishes and all that jazz. Laundry, as always, stuff to haul away…no getting around that.

Grandpa, regretfully isn’t feeling well at all. And added to that, he is being most stubborn about pretty much everything. Very difficult to watch him this way. Struggling with his health, mental and physical, and no way for me to help him. What is worse, I think, is that it seems as if he has given up on life in general, which is gradually dragging him down. He won’t hold out like this for long, I fear…and the bad thing is, if things get too bad, he wants to go back to his home country, because he is afraid of Spanish healthcare and care homes.

Worries are gnawing at me, making my stomach hurt a lot, for which the training is very good. I need that hour to unwind, to let go of the worries, ‘cause it’ll drag me down if I let it. Gawd, there are days when it feels as if I’m right back where I started. Where my body was a mess, just as my head. Can’t make choices for grandpa, can’t make choices for anyone, only myself. It is something to remember.

But enough of the depressing stuff. Been catching up on my reading. Had a rather great food donation for the dogs a few days ago. Meant that we needed to do a lot of processing of veggies, bread and meat, but it was a good thing. Almost a full week of food, which is vastly reassuring.

Any day without processed dog food is a good day.

Been having a lot of company during the nights. Got Tadaika spending the night a lot these days. Same goes for Huckabee and Clue, who have decided that sleeping on my bed is a nice thing…it is for them. I, on the other hand, don’t have room, again. Darn it. Hah.

Had a nice dinner with a friend recently, which is also nice. Nothing like being out of the house for a bit, leaving behind worries and just “being”, if you know what I mean.

Well, that is about all I can think of a the moment. It doesn’t help that I’ve had a glass of wine, which is making me a tad blurry. Hah. Be that as it may, this should do for the blog this time round. I’ll try to do better next time.

The ON DIT and a couple of pics

Song of the day: “Roar” not by Katie Perry, but rather this band that covered it splendidly. Been going through my head for quite a bit, actually. Hah.

What’s new, what’s new…not much, but the good news is that you are looking at a very happy girl who finally has a kitchen sink again. Hah. Yep, this very day, big brother and I finished installing the thing, and I gotta say it is looking pretty darn cute. I’ll see if I can post a pic.

It worked out well. Worked with wood, stainless steel and marble, and there is lots of light since we basically knocked the window back a couple of feet and created an alcove of sorts. It reminds me a bit of a galley, which has its charm. I just have to forget that I really, really like open big places. *sigh* All it needs now is a water heater and a light.

Stove in front, then kitchen sink. Very handy.

I haven’t been getting enough sleep lately, much to my regret, but who needs sleep anyway. I’ll sleep when I’m dead, right? Been trying to catch up with naps here and there, but alas that doesn’t always work. I’ll keep trying, though. Hah.

  

The gate I mentioned. The lock's not on it here yet.

Like mentioned the last time the gate big brother and I put together for the old horse paddock. Nice and straight and sturdy and made of materials that used to be my cabin. *sob* Poor me. Seriously, I sometimes look at the stuff we’re using, including for the kitchen sink, and think: “Oh, that was my lovely cabin.” I miss my cabin. I want my cabin back. *double sob* Can’t care about stuff I can’t change, so moving on.

Been doing daily writing. Not much, mind you, since I’m often drooping by the end of the day. But the story is steadily progressing. Also, we finally figured out most of the plot, which has been jotted down, yay, making things a lot less complicated. Though, I find it hard to find my focus whenever I’m working on my book, but there are moments when I get into the zone and pound out a page or two without conscious thoughts. Those are the times I live for at the moment, I admit.

Lots of experimenting with cooking this past week or so. Got a really good dish of fresh soft veggies that I really should jot down for the cooking blog. Including a rather successful attempt at stuff mushrooms, which for some reason made them taste like little pizzas. Added to that, I tried out a south American dessert called Morocho…well, I had the main ingredient, looked at the picture, the title “spiced Morocho” and gave it my own swing…really nice, but it took forever to prepare. Considering I had to also boil chickpeas which had been soaking all through the night, it wasn’t like I wasn’t already busy at the stove already. The latter was for patties, which was really something I was in the mood for.

Been in the mood for veggies a lot lately, so there was loads of experimenting with zucchini, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, eggplant. Since we’re also training, egg has been part of our diet as well. Which reminds me…

We signed up for the fitness club in town, which is about a ten minute drive down the mountain. At the moment we’re doing three times a week, but would like to, somehow make that into four times. Luckily the aches and immobility after a workout session are gone, leaving only the usual soreness that belongs with regular training. I gotta say I like it. The place, the people, in particular after nine in the evening when there are only few others left at the gym, giving us free reign of the machines. Yay!

Been cutting and prepping a lot of the dog food lately. Normally grandpa insists on doing that, but he is not well. I have been trying to get him to go to a doctor, but he is terribly stubborn, determined to handle things his own way, in a way that I can’t help him. I probably shouldn’t anyway. Everyone needs to walk their own path. You can’t change that. It just makes me sad to see him suffer like this. Ravaged by worries, real and imagined alike, make his life very hard.

As for the dogs. I am still having difficulty with Knight’s passing. Not bouncing back as quickly as I’d hoped. Guess I didn’t exaggerate in the blog of his death: He did break my heart. And there barely is a day that passes without me thinking about him at least once.

On the up side, I get lots of guest during the night, these days. Huckabee has decided that he rather likes the quiet of my corner of the porch, so he and big brother’s Thorgal (Golden retriever) alternate overnight stays. The same goes for Clue, who has become a permanent resident on my bed during the night. It’s not bad, considering I only have Sitabah and Daxie now.

Lots of laundry, as usual. But there is something wrong with the washing machine, meaning that we’re going to need to get a mechanic here one day soon. Don’t know what’s up, but several of the usual washing programs are no longer functional. Gawd, I do hope that it won’t cost a fortune, because let’s face it, the warranty ran out about two months ago…strangely enough just a couple of days before the machine started acting up.

I am enjoying my table, in particular since it allows me to write in semi-comfort, and eat a meal sitting down. Not that I’m such a big fan of eating while sitting down, it is just that it is nice that you can, if you want to.

Spent quite a few mornings trimming more trees. There were some touch and go moments when things could have gone seriously wrong, but now the trees that could have been a problem for the power company, have been cut down leaving the lines completely free.

Did some sewing. There was stuff that needed to be fixed, and I liked the change of pace.

Oh, I cut my hair. Yep a whole two inches…and no one noticed, of course. Seriously, I cut it, fluffed it in a way that I never do, and no one mentioned anything. It’s hysterical. But anyway, I like it.  I can still tie it in a small stub in the back, (easy for training)  and I can leave it loose without it looking like a mess. I still have Einstein hair in the morning, of course, but that’s okay.

Well, I’m going to leave it at this. I’m running late, and morning is less than seven hours away. I’ll be back…at some point.