I am getting away from restaurant food. I can make tacos that are better (and cheaper) than Taco Bell or the South Clubhouse. I use ground beef (drained), a couple packages of taco seasoning (prefer the kind that is extra spicy), a box of taco shells, and hot taco sauce. I end up with tacos for three or four big meals.

Today I made up a big batch of sloppy joes. Mine are really good. I made them with a lot of chopped onions, catsup, mustard, a little salt, a pinch of sugar, and about 1/8 tsp of ground cloves. I’ll be eating sloppy joes for quite a few meals but I’m not complaining.

I really have no desire to go out to a restaurant.

I do enjoy some commercially frozen meals: Marie Callender’s chicken pot pies, frozen lasagna, Kiev chicken breasts, Shepherd’s pie, and some Lean Cuisine meals. I have a favorite frozen onion ring (Alexia’s) but frozen french fries don’t impress me.

I can fix a great air fried steak and super baked potatoes with crunchy skins).

It’s been a while since I’ve made any pork chops, but I do like to make them with rice, onions, and tomatoes and I’ve been known to make some excellent breaded pork chops. My pot roast was also excellent but it’s been a while.

In the near future, I’d like to make some goulash with tomatoes, onions, and elbow macaroni, some spaghetti, and maybe a pot of chile. Chicken and noodles is also a favorite of mine. I know my dishes are limited. I really don’t like a lot of exotic stuff.

No, I’m not becoming a cook but do a few pretty good dishes. I need to experiment a bit and expand my list.

Let’s see what I can come up with. What stuff have I enjoyed in the past?

I remember Mom would make “stinky steak.” It was a marinated steak. I have the recipe. I also have a good recipe for country style spare ribs. I used to make fried chicken. Cube steaks with onions in the slow cooker or pressure cooker would be good.

I’m going to work on my “I-can-make” recipes. I’ll brush off those dishes I haven’t tried for a while and/or some I am sure I’d like.

I haven’t sworn off restaurants completely. I do like China Chen’s General Tso’s chicken, I like pizza from South Shore Pizza. I used to love Chinese style Mongolian beef or beef with green onions and green peppers, and on Fridays there’s nothing better here than Fiori’s all-you-can-eat fish. (In Saginaw, the Moose’s walleye is better, but I’m now a Florida girl.) Burgers from Beef O’Brady’s are really good and I like a few dishes from Palm Court’s carry-out (chicken stir-fry, French dip, and Philly cheese steak.) It’s been a while since I’ve gone to Denny’s but they have great burgers and their BLT’s are really good. When I go to a restaurant like Little Harbor I generally order a chicken Caesar salad.

I really need to expand the stuff I can make. I’ll work on it.

Ken and I dated before the pandemic was really in full force (February-March 2020). I didn’t feel comfortable with his Covid-19 attitude and now I remember why. Back then I knew I wouldn’t chance being exposed to the virus. He wasn’t about to protect himself and I feared exposure because of his lack of concern. We parted and I felt it was for the best.

He called yesterday and we came very close to arguing. He kept saying the hike in Covid-19 numbers is just created by politicians and not real. He doesn’t feel Covid-19’s continued danger is valid. I disagree.

I know too many people who are affected by the virus. I know hospitals are full and turning away patients. There’s a genuine risk. He says it’s all made up and those (like me) who believe what’s being reported, are just gullible. According to him, we watch too many news programs where invalid news is distributed. It’s all political.

I am not willing to take a chance. If the authorities say it’s becoming more dangerous, I believe. If I feel there’s a need to wear a mask, I’ll do it.

I try to separate my feelings of him from his “out-there” statements, but it’s hard.

I was wise to avoid him at the start of the pandemic because he was blind to the approaching crisis.

He did get the vaccine and in April of this year, when he came back into my life (early April 2021) it seemed that the virus was under control. We never talked about how he felt about Covid-19. But now the numbers are going up again. His attitude was revealed yesterday. He knows I feel he’s wrong and I know he’s not going to change his mind.

He believes he’s very knowledgeable and superior. In this case, he’s wrong!! (He may think he’s very smart, but I know I am too.)

I don’t know how much of his belief is tainted by Trump. We don’t normally talk about politics or the virus, but it’s an underlying difference in our beliefs that is hard to ignore. Yesterday he made enough statements that I disagree with that I couldn’t just pretend. Maybe his being gone now is good. I’m feeling we don’t have to and probably won’t start back up when he returns.

Yesterday I received a call from a Sun City Center fellow who’d seen me on Our Time dating website. He wanted us to get together so we made a date for today (Saturday).

While “Our Time Guy” was talking on my phone, Ken tried to reach me. When he finally got through to me, I felt guilty. I do enjoy Ken’s company but not the situation he has created for us.

After talking to the other guy a couple of times, we decided on a visit rather than the dinner and sunset he’d suggested for our first “date.”

But shortly after that, I received a lovely bouquet of flowers (lilies, roses, daisies, and more) from Ken. The note with it said, “Thinking of you. Love, Ken.”

I just couldn’t accept the flowers and be thinking about him, while leading someone else on. So I called my “Our Time date” and explained that I need to resolve my relationship with Ken before I lure in another guy.

I’m glad I did it. Ken is super sweet and I know I really care for him. I know this new guy doesn’t do a thing for me. He’s just a “guy.” I’m not that hard up. He may be truly nice, but he doesn’t ring any bells for me.

So with my date with the Our Time guy cancelled I will enjoy Ken’s flowers and think about him. I don’t know how I’ll feel when he gets back here. I do know that I can’t ignore the time we’ve enjoyed.

Tomorrow is the third year anniversary of my arrival here in Florida as a full-time resident.

I remember wandering around my Lake Cecil house taking in all the lovely views the night before I left. It was a special home.
Photos of my Lake Cecil home
John and I enjoyed it completely. I wish I could have a home like that here, but it’s definitely a Michigan, not Florida residence.

I wonder if the new owner is enjoying it. I wish I could see the changes that he’s made. Since he also bought my furniture, it probably looks pretty much the same.

Two afternoon euchre games a week (Monday and Thursday) and either a dance or karaoke on Tuesday evening. Until the renovations are complete and Jubilee Hall reopened at the South Clubhouse, I probably won’t go to Thursday evening’s Rock N Rendezvous. Might occasionally go to the Moose on Friday night.

It’s typically very hot during the summer months here in Florida. It rains almost daily and temps are over 90. At least everything’s green.

I’ve heard from Ken a couple times, but he’s really too busy to be concerned about me.

I haven’t lost weight but I am still hoping. Even though I’m not toned up, I keep thinking that Ken says he doesn’t want me to lose weight.

Last night (Friday) I thought about what I wanted for dinner. I thought about Ken’s Friday night choice: fish at Fiore’s. (I fixed my own dinner, but the fish idea still sounded good.)

I went to the senior dance and Rock N Rendezvous and apparently didn’t impress anyone but I thought “I impress Ken.”

I had planned to close up the gap when he left, but to be honest he still has an influence on me. I’m sure by the time he gets back, his influence will have waned. I’ll see.

I’m sticking to some promises to myself.

I went to two Euchre games this week (Monday and Thursday). I also went to a dance Tuesday and Rock N Rendezvous Thursday.

Today, after giving a lady a tour of golf cart routes, I came home and took my car out for a drive to keep the battery at its best.

The singles dance last night (Tuesday) was ok. I danced with a few guys.

Monday I went to the Moose euchre game and had lousy cards plus I was rusty. (Won the boobie prize.) It was fun.

With that in mind, I’ll play euchre Thursday at the Whistlers.

I realized last night when I was trying to get to sleep that I need to get some chores accomplished before they get any more out of hand.

In the garage, there’s a ginormous pile of boxes left from my purchases (especially during the pandemic).

In my closet, there’s a mess of stuff to be donated and stuff I need to hang up. I just keep adding to the pile. I need to wash a lot of the top layer (the stuff I need to hang up).

I also needed to finish installing my new sound bar on my great room TV. (I can figure out how to change to volume from the remote.)

After worrying about my laziness last night, I turned over a new leaf and I’m whittling down the chores.

The closet is looking better. I’m still packing up stuff to donate, but at least I know what needs to go.

I’ve figured out my sound bar. It’s now working perfectly. (No more garbled sound.)

Instead of getting rid of all of the boxes, I’m using some for the stuff that needs to be donated that’s in my closet.

Oh, and I also need to clean out my fridge but I’ll do that on Tuesday so it can go in the garbage.

Another big chore is going through all my bedroom drawers and getting rid of stuff I no longer wear.

One day of work and I’ve accomplished a lot. I’m glad I’m finally off my butt.

I slept through Elsa, the storm. (Actually I woke up several times to make sure everything was ok. It was.) It doesn’t look like it impacted our area. Yes, the trees are dancing, but someone just walked past on the cart path and the sun just peaked out. It’s a typical day.

The alarm has sounded. I’m now officially in a hurricane zone. With my upgraded windows, I feel my place is as safe as any place here in the area. I’ve mentioned to a couple of girlfriends that if they feel they’re in danger, they can stay with me. I might have company, but I doubt it. I can sleep several extras (futon in guest room, inflatable mattress, and couch).

The clubhouses are closed. I have my menu planned for tonight (sirloin patty and crusty baked potato).

It isn’t as scary as I’d thought it would be. The winds haven’t really picked up and it looks like any other day. Things could/should change over the next twelve hours.

I spent today getting ready for Elisa. She’s supposed to pass through my area tomorrow.

All of my lanai and patio furniture has been relocated so it’ll be safe. My house feels disrupted because I have the “palm lamp” from the lanai in my dining room, the lanai and patio furniture piled up on the lanai, the garage freezer isn’t easily accessed because the hanging plants are on top of it. I have a pile of chair cushions in the garage. It took all day but I stuck with it. I’m ready for almost anything.

My lanai (screened-in on the entry side of my condo) and back patio open (out my sliders with a roof over it) are loaded with furniture. With the approaching storm (now forecast for tomorrow), I need to move all of that stuff so it won’t blow.

I am not very strong and I’m easily worn out, but today I knew I need to muster all my physical resources and get my stuff safely battened down. So far, I’ve taken care of the lanai. The chair cushions are now in the garage and the heavy metal frames stacked.

My major concern is moving the two heavy lounge chairs from the back open patio. I almost feel like I could lower the backs making a tighter profile and leave them, but I hate to risk it so my plan is to get them into the now sorta empty lanai. Once I move them, I can roll up the rugs and secure them. The two lovely hanging geraniums will be relocated inside the condo. I have two small tables that’ll need to be moved but they’re light so no problem.

I can’t do it all at once because it saps me, so I’m doing it a few pieces at a time. I used my golfcart to take a load to the garage (cushions).

I want to finish moving everything today so I don’t have to worry about it tomorrow.

Little by little I’ll do it!

Friday (yesterday) I worked at the Emergency Squad and since it’s been raining a lot, I figured I’d better plan to drive my car. So Thursday evening I went out to start it. Thank heavens I did because it wouldn’t start. Apparently the battery was dead.

It was towed to the Brandon Honda dealership. I was disappointed that a car with 882 miles on it wouldn’t start but it was explained to me that even with the car off, the battery has lots draining it.

I will drive it more. Obviously I want it to start when I need it.

This morning they called to say it was fixed and I could come after it. I was concerned about getting to Brandon to claim my car. I finally called Connie, a girlfriend I play dominos with, and she was glad to give me a ride. We had heavy (blinding) rain and it scared me. Connie is an excellent driver and she made it with no problems.

I had to wait a while to get my car back (the person who had made the arrangements was working with another customer). I finally got on the road with a plan in mind. I wasn’t driving on I-75, but instead I’d use the State Road 41, which I used to take when John needed to go to Tampa General. Except for heavy rain when I started out, the drive was ok.

I did have to stop for gas and that was almost laughable. I didn’t know how to get the gas cap open, and couldn’t figure out how to work the windshield wipers. But after struggling, it all worked and I made it.

I must say that the car is comfortable, and if I was more familiar with the features, I’d probably love it.

I will drive it a lot more!!! I promise!!