Mrs.J

1 minute ago, vastateofmind said:

OMG....I forgot about the hairy buffalo "punch" made up in trashcans back in the day. Liquor bottles with "only that much left" would be dumped in the can just to use them up. LOLOL.

Along the lines of @H2O's previous mention....do vodka-soaked gummi bears count as "fruit?" Asking for a friend.

Yep! Mr. J is from the south and down there they call it Hunch Punch. I used to live next to a Rugby house. Messed those guys up for about a day don't even want to say what they got up to. And I would think gummi bears would count as fruit. Would be like a Jello shot. 

1 hour ago, H2O said:

grain soaked watermelon is the shit

Actually per research grain soaked grapes are the bomb! I messed up some of my fellow college friends on a trash can of Harry Buffalo with grapes soaked in Everclear. We actually lit those things on fire!

That being said my favorite fruit is star fruit. It is like a giant chewy sweet tart!

Wanting to hear the first roll of spring thunder. This will do until that time comes. 

Korean Beef bowls for dinner tonight with pickled veggies and kimchi. 

42 minutes ago, NorthArlington101 said:

Just throwing this out there to anyone here who might be interested: there is a vaccine site in Danville, VA that is actively asking people to drive down, no appointment or pre-existing conditions needed. Basically half of UVA is there and I *might* cave and go down since it seems they really do have a surplus and are advertising it. If anyone wants the details, let me know. 

Definitely still trying to acquire the taste. Have had a wide sampling of light beers but they are good for nothing but beer pong and being a last resort option. Hard cider, cocktails, mixed drinks, all much better. I'd like to eventually acquire the taste though!

I say take a drive on down! Looking back at my invite info I thought it was the Frederick Co Dept of Health, but as I am still under care at Frederick Health Hospital for Oncology that is how I got my invite. 

59 minutes ago, H2O said:

yay!!!  Hope you don't have any side effects!!

So far so good. I am drinking a lake full of water and just did my recorded work out I missed this morning due to my scheduled appt. They said the more you move and use your arm the better it will be. Am holding off on Tylenol if I can help it. Second appt is scheduled for mid April. 

10 hours ago, NorthArlington101 said:

Officially 21. Time for me to start taking your guys’ beer recommendations. Does that make it eight years since I started posting in this forum? That’s scary.

Happy Birthday!!! Ah 21... I turned 21 while on Spring Break out in Colorado. Went out with my brother and went skiing at Copper Mountain and Keystone. We went to the bar and he bought me a drink. Good times.  And Happy Birthday to all those March folks here. We are a tough bunch, March can be crappy and nice from day to day and we roll with it. 

So just got back from my vaccine jab at the Health Dept. Was quite surreal parking for the clinic and seeing the line for testing. Went in and it was a smooth process. Honestly had to hold back tears of joy when that needle went in my arm. And I am a needlephobe, but for a person who for over a year has kept out of almost everywhere expect for being outside I was so happy! I truly felt a sense of relief wash across me. I came home and broke down with joy showing Mr. J my vaccine card. I get to start contributing to the family again real soon. Now downing the water and am going to work out as it says it will help lessen arm soreness. 

OH MY I am over the moon tonight! This Immune Compromised lady just got an invitation to a vaccination clinic at the Frederick Department of Health for tomorrow morning!!!

We filled out the intent form back in January and found out only around 20,000 Fred Co residents signed up, so looks like they are moving quickly as my group was not supposed to even be available till next Tuesday. 

39 minutes ago, GramaxRefugee said:

Aha. No wonder she's such a good cook.

Food is Love;  (popular Greek saying)

Thanks!

I really don't know much about my Greek heritage. My grandmother's father was Greek, from Crete, but her parents got divorced when she was young. Which must have been something back in that time. So my grandmother never really did much Mediterranean cooking with the exception of Lamb. But the love of cooking must have transferred with her as she loved to cook and bake. So I have been exploring that side of cooking for a few years now to help me re-connect with my Greek heritage. My actual first full name is Greek, although my mom changed the first letter to match her initials, so by doing that it is the Romanian version. 

9 minutes ago, NorthArlington101 said:

Same in Virginia. College students who stay up till midnight are rewarded with appointments. I think it’s rather immoral so I’ve avoided it but I’d need a lot more fingers to count on my fingers the number of perfectly healthy college students who have gotten vaccinated in the past week.

My parents in FL have told me to lie my way into a vaccine. I told them that is just not right. Am I frustrated that a person with underlying conditions has had to wait, yes. But I am not going to lie my way into a vaccine.

So this 48 year old cancer survivor will be one of those trolling at midnight if I have to starting March 30th here. I am signed up on a an intent form with my local county health department, but I feel that as they are only up to 1952 for their age group that will not be happening soon for me. I will hopefully get to pre-register for a mass site next Tuesday. Have my Twitter alerts set up with a Vax Alert Bot and have joined a MD Vaccine Hunters group that gives tips and tricks and even helps those who are having issue getting registered. 

So Mr. J did good for a birthday gift. Had a quiet day and ordered in Thai on Wednesday. After all my life having a St Patrick’s Day birthday I am over the mass pub scene of my adult life. Not being Irish at all, German and Greek mostly, it has been nice to just celebrate it as my birthday. 

2 hours ago, WxUSAF said:

I didn’t think there were these subgroups in phase 2 but here we are...

Whatever though, I’ve got my plans for 6-7am on the 27th 

Yea the sub groups in 2 is new. As of March 30th I will be queuing up. 
 

You do know you can pre-register for the Mass vax sites starting today for group 2A yes?

2 hours ago, vastateofmind said:

As always, looks AMAZING. I'm not a tremendous mushroom fan, but I'll bet it tastes good with that mix. The snap peas look soooo mouthwatering. Never heard of the meifun noodles, but they look awesome, especially with the other veggie/protein mix here. Geez, Mrs. J, if you don't already have your own cooking blog, channel, etc. -- you really should.

I am an introvert so I have issues going big with things. But am happy that I can share here. And yea the Meifun noodles are a new one for me. Brown rice noodles kind of like angle hair pasta. And the nice thing about stir frys is you can add the veg to your liking. So could just leave out the mushrooms. 

1 hour ago, toolsheds said:

Looks really good!  Made pulled pork tonight in the crock pot with some homemade spicy raspberry BBQ sauce.  Yum :-)

Oh we are having pulled pork nachos tomorrow. Made pulled pork last week and had enough left over. That BBQ sauce sounds good!

40 minutes ago, rclab said:

Good evening Mrs J. It doesn’t matter, as long as your the one making it. As always .....

Awe thanks! Chicken stir fry with Meifun noodles. Nice change from rice. 

What am I making today 

2 hours ago, vastateofmind said:

Great perks! And yeah, avoiding any commuting days is a huge win in my book...especially when trying to plan for, or prep, weeknight dinners!   

Absolutely. Can't imagine making a DC-WV commute on a regular basis, but the trade-off is living where you and @Mrs.J live -- both beautiful areas away from all of the urbanization. My wife and I considered a move to Leesburg or just west of there many years ago, but I ultimately didn't want the commute from there and telework wasn't an option back then.

I currently live only six miles from my job at Belvoir, however, with a ramp-up of in-fill residential/commercial development and many extra traffic lights added in recent years, what used to be a 15-20 minute commute a decade ago, turned into (typically) a one-way 30-40 minute commute just before the pandemic shutdown. I mean, that's just a ridiculous amount of time to traverse six miles, IMHO.

Yea we many times thought of moving closer to Rockville. But I just cannot get past the built up environment. Even Frederick to a point in areas is getting built up. We live in a neighborhood on the SW side. Very close to 270 and 70. But as it stands we still have many fields around us. Could change, but hope that by the time it does with both Miss J's in college we will downsize. I want a tiny house Mr. J is still not sold on it. 

23 hours ago, wxtrix said:

i bet they do. happier more productive employees are more likely to stay.

in fact, the ability to telework at competitor's workplaces is going to be factor in retaining good employees.

He says that he will still go in but would like the opportunity for a couple days of no commute. His office has a sweet kitchen with a chef and there are work out facilities in house. Also a giant theater that they hold meetings in.  

21 minutes ago, mappy said:

Also, working from home. Definitely going to be pushing to be more WFH than in the office when this is all over. I won't mind going in a couple days a week, or for meetings that must be done in person, but not full time. There are so many benefits to WFH, for those that can. 

11 minutes ago, wxtrix said:

oceanwx’s boss has gone 100% virtual and has moved out of the area to take care of aging parents. we’re hoping he can do the same so we can move to the Keys sooner than we had planned.

his company had been 100% opposed to letting the engineering group telework; after a month the director said it was there to stay.

Mr. J's office always said there is no way to allow them to work from home with security issues. But last April they made the decision to get all employees out of the building and home. They all had to go down during scheduled appts and get their work stations. Then everyone was sent an encrypted router, I believe that is what it is, to hook up to their home internet. His company just got acquired by Microsoft and they have told his company that when the pandemic is lifted is when they will open up the office. I am hoping though that seeing that it has worked out this past year that they will give options to do some WFH. It has cut our gas filling in half and is nice to have him home for an actual dinnertime. Which in the past was some days where the girls and I would eat and he would eat when he got home. 

Just now, WxUSAF said:

@Mrs.J with POTUS’ announcement last night, I’d expect phase 2 in MD by April 1.

Thanks! Yea I saw that when @nj2va posted the Garrett Co info. 

One thing I am trying to find out is because I am still on Tamoxfin, a drug for BC to remove Estrogen to lessen the chance of re-occurrence, if that is considered "cancer patients currently in active treatment." Of if that statement means currently in Chemo and or Radiation. I had Radiation 5 years ago so that part of my treatment is done. But I am still on the Tamoxfin. 

No eating out inside or outside for this cancer survivor. Hoping that MD gets the ball rolling and moves into phase 2 soon. Yesterday was not a good day for me seeing other friends in other states with underlying conditions getting their shots. I am genuinely happy for all who are able to get shots, just frustrated at the process in MD with immunocompromised persons. 

My arm has been waiting and I have equipped my phone with all the apps and notifications to get in line. I have debated jumping state lines for shots in states that are vaccinating people in my category. I may start asking you all for your zip codes so I can branch out if my area is tough to get an appt. Know of someone who drove over to Easton for theirs. I have an EZpass and will do a day trip if needed. Hate driving the Bay bridge but will white knuckle it for a shot  

Slept with the window slightly open last night. Woke up this morning sneezing. It's grass pollen season. 

Out of no where just had a huge gust of wind blow in. Lasted for about 30 sec and now everything is calm again. 

67 out. Kid went on a trail ride so I have this to look at. It is fantastic out! 

I just love the emails I get from my solar system. Today will be a full charge up for sure!

Moroccan meatballs with polenta. Total gluten free meal. 

2 hours ago, vastateofmind said:

I love the combined "comfort" and utility of your workspace, @Mrs.J...along with the upgrades you've shared here. I hope it's working out well for you.

Our Son #1 moved out two years ago, about a year after he graduated from college and decided to go into Army Officer Candidate School (go figure) -- which provided us the chance to have our first dedicated guest room in our small-ish home. Son #2 graduated in December 2019, lived/teleworked with us during most of 2020 and just moved out to Arlington about a month ago -- and Son #2's vacant bedroom provided me the first opportunity EVER to have my own dedicated home office, which couldn't be more timely as I'll likely be teleworking 90% or more of the time for the last few years of my career. I'm on Cloud 9.   

   

It is so nice to get your own space. I have spent the last 17 years only ever doing for the rest of my family. It has taken me this long to be ok with doing for myself. 
 

Your office space looks great! And like that it is it’s own room.