Chicken & wild rice soup recipes

​recipe 1 

recipe 2 from AllRecipes

How to keep rice from getting mushy in soup

Memories

​Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:

1. History of the Soviet Union (taken in spring 1989)

2. History of Carnival

3. Metalsmithing

4. Economic History (with Douglass North)

5. Philosophy of Architecture (with William Gass) 

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

​Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling 

1. Worked a little 
2. Hung up more art 
   
3. Withdrew funds from inherited IRA
   
4. Checked and rechecked all day for funds from closing on our house, and got snippy with incompetent people on the phone  
   
5. Emptied dishwasher 
6. Started a loaf of sourdough bread 
7. Drove on country roads 
   
8. Discussed future events with Nora
   
9. Discussed mother in law’s future with sister in law and daughter 
   
10. Watched Peter give a thoughtful presentation about Lovecraft and other writers 
    
11. Bought croissants 
12. Had pizza at Cappys
    
13. Brought back more stuff from condo to houses
14. Watched a meh Agatha Christie mystery with Sean and snoozed a bit with my head on his lap 
    
15. Read Count of Monte Cristo 
    

Accomplishments today

1. I went through 5 banker boxes, two smaller plastic boxes, and two bags of bathroom stuff. I filled a small trash can. I filled one banker box up with stuff we’re giving away on Sunday. The rest I’ll put away tomorrow or Saturday. I suspect there’s more toiletries somewhere. But this is majority of it. Bathrooms finally unpacked.
   
2. Hung up 5 pieces of art. Brought in most of the art from garage and figured out where it will be hung up.
3. Did not completely meltdown during last final agonizing steps of closing in selling Stonecreek Street. The idiot buyers sent us an extra $1000 for some reason. We wait until morning to see if we get our money or if the whole thing was a scam. Never ever ever doing a closing remotely again. Maybe just never moving again.
4. Guided Peter from afar. Trying to be at peace with his moods. 
5. Let Sean handle his mom’s birthday gift, the new owners at the gate, Peter and buying new shirts. It feels good.

Peter

​Peter was (is) such a good kid. Just so troubled. I don’t know how people say their kids are “bad.” He was frustrating and an enigma and hard to understand. But good lord, it’s clear he was struggling. I yelled at him a lot, and I also let his moods affect the family (how do we not)… but he was never mean or manipulative or bad, just exhausting. I think how much pain he must’ve been in. And he’s often sad now about his childhood which absolutely breaks my heart.

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

​Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling 

1. Prepared a Gift Tax return

2. Had a one armed man listen to the robot keeping my heart beating 

3. Donated a large coat, several jackets and long sleeve shirts, and 3 scarfs to a local group that hands them out to homeless folks

4. Watched several episodes of Survivor 38 to remember people who will be on Survivor 50

5. Enjoyed 10 minutes of super chilly sunset

Today

​I am sitting outside, enjoying the birds and the eventual sunset. It is 54°, and feels like 47. I’m wearing a sweater and a turtleneck and have a blanket over me. But I doubt I will last long enough to see the sunset. It is fucking cold.

Also I ordered a bird feeder and birdseed — first I researched. What is the appropriate kind for Central Florida – this will hang on the hook that the prior owners left us.

We certainly have more bird activity in this backyard. Then we did the old one. There’s a little tiny, cute bird that hangs on our backyard sometimes. And lately, I have been leaving the screen door open to make it easier for Luna to get out, and yesterday the little bird was inside the porch. But he figured his way out again.

I will confess I have not been walking Luna. But she does not seem to be outside either. She’s not even out here for the sunset right now.

I miss Peter & Sean. I’ve done some unpacking. I made a little progress in the garage even! I’ve actually been working for CRI for a change too. Plus a ridiculous number of doctors appointments. I certainly not been eating regularly nor sleeping enough. But that’s cause I’m an idiot when Sean is not around.

Meanwhile I repaired  the decapitated  flamingo

I’ve had white wine and Nilla wafers and Survivor… I’m totally relaxed.

Earlier today, I donated a big coat, some jackets and sweaters and scarves to a group that gives them to homeless people.