A LAZY DAY

And don't we all need one now and then.  I couldn't sleep last night.  I get those kinds of nights every now and then.  I stayed downstairs so I wouldn't wake Joe up and watched TV until I finally got tired around 4 a.m.  I then woke up at 6 a.m. and stayed up until around 9:30 a.m. when I fell asleep again and slept all day.  Yes, you read that right -- ALL DAY.  I woke up around 3:00 p.m. and feel like I could go back to sleep now, but it's almost 7:00 p.m. and I have to make dinner.

At least I'm having an easy dinner tonight.  I have some ground turkey and just didn't feel like having turkey burgers again.  So I am making my version of Sloppy Joes.  I brown the meat, season it with salt, pepper, garlic powder, dried onions and Italian herbs.  Then I pour a can of tomato soup over it, heat it all up and serve it on top of toast.  I haven't made it in a long time but I remember it being really good.

We were so fortunate with the blizzard that passed through the northeastern U.S. last night.  We got about an inch of snow and it was so warm today that I didn't even have to clean off the car -- it all melted.  What a relief that we were on the southern edge of the storm.  But my sisters and brother did not make out so well.  I am very concerned for them.  I am going to have to call them to make sure they are OK.  They have all been on facebook today so I am assuming that all is well with them.

I have been reading so many new blogs and have begun following a few new ones.  It's always fun to meet new people and read new blogs.  I'm also going back and reading through some blogs from the beginning which is fun also.  It's interesting to see kids growing up quickly and getting to know the backgrounds to some of the stories.

Well, time to make dinner, so I'm off for tonight.  I'll be back tomorrow with my Chinese New Year post.  Until then...  

SURPRISE

Look at what I woke up to on Wednesday.

 Yesterday it was clear and now today we are expecting a blizzard.  At least we are on the southern edge and will get more rain than snow, but my sister in northern New Jersey and my sister and brother in Maine are going to get hit badly.  24+ inches.

We had to have a new electric meter put in yesterday.  The city is changing all of the meters to digital that can be fixed remotely.  Our basement is just that -- a basement.  Full of junk.  Don't know what to do with it?  Just throw it down the basement for now.  So Joe and I have spent three days cleaning up the area where the meters are so the guy would have enough room to work.  I was lifting a lot of heavy stuff and pulled my back.  We got rid of so much stuff though.  Our pile of trash for pickup today is huge.

So yesterday at work my lower abdomen started hurting.  It felt like muscle spasms.  I have had trouble with my liver and gall bladder before and so that is where my mind went.  I went online to look up my symptoms and got all kinds of things.  You know I always think the worst.  I have an appointment with my doctor on Monday because I've had this pain off and on for a couple of weeks, but this was much worse and I called Joe from work and told him I wanted to go to the ER when I got home from work at 8:30 p.m.

But when I got home I laid down for a little bit while Joe made dinner.  I started feeling better and this morning the pain is gone.  I am still keeping the hospital as an option, but hopefully I can just see the doctor on Monday.  I think it may be my back causing the problems (I have spurs and bulging disks) and it really is muscle spasms and not something more serious.

Joe went to the store while I was laying down.  When he came back he had these for me.

   
Aren't they beautiful?  He said it was a "just because" gift.  He is such a sweet husband.

Well off to get ready for work.  If I feel bad today, I am definitely leaving early and getting some medical help.  But hopefully it's all done with for the weekend at least.  Until later....

FAMOUS PEOPLE JOE HAS MET -- JACQUES PEPIN

There's nothing going on here lately, just normal every day stuff.  So I thought I would do another one of my continuing series on famous people Joe has met.  He has met more famous people than anyone I know.  I will tell you about his meeting with the famous chef Jacques Pepin.

Many years ago Joe was taking a trip where he was driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.  At the time Howard Johnson's had the contract for restaurant stops along the turnpike.  Being hungry and knowing he could get a good meal, he stopped at one of them.  He was waited on right away, but his food took a little while to come out.  The waiter who took his order did not bring out his food, but another man did.  He placed the food on the table and said in a strong French accent, "Let me know if anything is good with your dinner or if there is anything you don't like."

After Joe ate, the man with the French accent returned and asked him how his dining experience was and how the food was.  Joe replied that both the food and service were excellent and anytime he was hungry and a Howard Johnson's was around he would eat there because he knew he would get a good product.  Joe introduced himself and asked him, "How is it that a Frenchman would work for Howard Johnson's?"  The man answered, "My name is Jacques Pepin and I am in charge of creating menus and training cooks throughout the Howard Johnson's chain."

Not many people know that this was one of Jacques Pepin's first jobs after he came to America.  He held this position for several years before setting out on his own and becoming a famous chef.  Joe had no way of knowing who Jacques Pepin was or that he would go so far in his career.  But that's Joe.  He always seems to meet the "rich and famous."

If you haven't read them, please go back and read about how he met Frank Perdue and Olivia Newton-John.  More stories coming later.  Yes, there's even more famous people Joe has met.