I am officially on vacation now for the next week. It feels great to be able to cash in some PTO – I’ve changed jobs so frequently, I rarely accrue enough to use it before I’m onto the next gig – but hopefully, I stop that cycle with CheeseGov.
The last time I had an extended break, weather foiled my plans. Confident that history couldn’t possibly repeat itself, I planned a day trip to Sheboygan and points north for today. Only, I underestimated Mother Nature, cruel mistress that she is. Because, not only did it end up snowing today, but Sheboygan and points north are directly in the bullseye for the heaviest stuff.
Doesn’t that just figure?!
As much as I love this blog snow, the real thing is even better, and we haven’t had much so far this season, so I am not complaining. I took it as a sign that I should stay home, drink Bloody Marys, watch movies, start a fire in the wood stove, and snuggle with the cats. I’m sure there will be an inevitable walk in the snow at some point, too. Look how beautiful it is out there!
I never have days like this; I’m usually much too restless to just sit around doing nothing, but for once in my life, that’s exactly what I’m doing. Oh, and making a pot of split pea soup, because I found that elusive ham hock. At Woodman’s, of course. I figured any place with a half-mile-long cheese aisle and a selection of frozen pizza numbering in the hundreds was bound to come through for me. Is it any wonder I love that store so much?
I’ve been managing pretty well without Tara this week, though naturally, things haven’t been completely mishap-free. Last night I was rummaging through the freezer and found one leftover frozen chocolate chip cookie that you heat up in the oven, so I threw it in there, fired up last week’s episode of SNL, and set a timer for 34 minutes.
Or so I thought.
I fell asleep in my recliner pretty much in the middle of Chris Rock’s opening monologue and woke up to the closing credits, one hour and four minutes later. That’s when I remembered the cookie in the oven. I guess I hadn’t set that timer after all, because the thing was still baking away at 350°. I immediately removed it from the oven, but it was extra crispy by that point. Great for fried chicken, not so much for a cookie. Unwilling to concede defeat, I took a few bites, but the hard texture and burnt taste were too off-putting, so I dumped it in the trash.
Still, if that’s my only fail during Tara’s absence, I’ll consider it a win. Usually I end up with two or three things going sideways. (Of course, I still have a few days to get through, so: knock on wood.)
As for Tara, she’s having a good time in Mexico. Her dad took everyone out fishing and they came back with an impressive haul of tuna. The town itself looks cute if a bit drab. Lots of street vendors, open-air restaurants, flea markets. Few places have A/C. It’s definitely not a tourist hot spot, which is probably part of its charm.
Fun as the trip is, she’s ready to come home. Her flight arrives Saturday evening around 9:00, so at least I won’t have to get up in the middle of the night for the drive to MKE this time.
I’m not sure what I’ll be doing the rest of my vacation. I still might try to drive north tomorrow, but that depends on the road conditions, which I suspect will not be great. I won’t risk life and limb to walk along a snow-covered beach, but that does sound pretty cool, huh?
I may refrain from any more baking though. Just in case.
And am I the only one who thinks your wood burning stove looks angry? Staying home and doing nothing sounded nice, but you really had me at snuggling with the cats. Mmm… Fuzzy furry warm purringness…
Mark My Words 
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