November 2023

Well we hung in there for a long time, but COVID finally caught up with the both of us. I was scheduled for surgery November 8 but Rog came down with a cold right after his aikido test. And a few days after that, I came down with it. When they called with pre-surgery instructions, they asked me to take a COVID test. Sure enough, it came out positive. Surgery was canceled for the second time and rescheduled for December 4. The “cold” lasted a few days and then lingered on with a cough. I felt yucky for a while, but it actually wasn’t too bad. Rog’s aikido class had a potluck dinner so he came home after Friday night’s weapons class and picked me up for it. What a great group of people. I met all of the folks I have heard so much about all these years. Michelle and Karissa included me in a “girl’s night out” to see Rocklin Theater put on Beauty and the Beast. As usual, a superb performance. We followed it up with an ice cream at Handel’s.

We had our usual Thanksgiving … started with the Macy’s Parade, then the Purina Dog Show. Ryan had brought over a HUGE turkey on Tuesday and I gave it a brine rub. Rog stuffed it, then smoked it and cooked it on the Weber, Karissa came over a little early and set the table. She had made adorable pilgrim place cards. Everyone else got here about 3. Ryan had smoked cheeses and Beth set up a tray of appetizer goodies. The turkey was so big it took an extra half hour to cook but the wait was worth it. Michelle made veggies and dessert, Ryan mashed potatoes, and I contributed the jello salad. A feast to be sure! The Blooms did the after meal cleanup which helped tremendously.

The next day, Ryan and Beth picked us up at noon and we headed to Bodega Bay for the Family Weekend. Took us 3 ½ hours to get there, but well worth it. The house was gorgeous. Great views of the bay, especially at sunrise. Blooms made us enchiladas on Friday night, with Karissa making a cinnamon crumb cake for dessert. We played a long game of “Laugh You’re Out”. Some images that will take a long time to forget! But a lot of laughing.

On Saturday, Rog joined the Blooms for a hike to the beach through the dunes. It was quite a trek for him. Only 15 minutes one way but lots of hills and loose sand. Before lunch, we did the family picture. Then the Blooms took a road trip north and Ryan and Beth headed out to shop and then have lunch at Spud Point. When everyone got back, Karissa got in her session in the hot tub. We also enjoyed watching a couple of deer that munched for hours in the patio garden 10 feet from the window. Beth made a shrimp and crab alfredo for dinner with ice cream for dessert. The evening games were a version of “Guys vs Gals” and then “Heads Up”. We made egg mcmuffins for breakfasts, leftovers for lunch. We left about 8:30 Sunday morning and were home before noon. What a fun weekend. What a special weekend.

The rest of the month was spent on my list of “to do before surgery”... We did 2 full yard leaf pickup jobs, made the Christmas snowflakes and poem, trimmed dead plants and got the yards in order and the house is decorated for Christmas. Weather has definitely turned and fall has arrived.